LffiRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, N.J. The George J. Finney Collection of Shaker Literature Given in Memory of His Uncle The Rev. John Clark Finney Class of 1907 REPLY TO THE CALLED A •REVIEW OF THE PORTRAITURE OF SHAKERISiVJ," WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE SICKNESS aND DEATH Or BETSV DYER ; A SKETCH OF THE JOURNEY OF^THE AUTHOR : AND TESTZMOKZSS F&OZC SEVEBAX. PEBSOXT9. BY MARY M. DYER, Author of the " Portraitut^ of Shakerism. •* Wt both tabor, and mjfer rtproach, bftawe vfe (nut in the living Grtft"— I Tim. iv. 10. COxrcoBS : iPRIKTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 1824.. PREFACE. It is a thing unexpected for me, to appea again in a publication of this kind. But th( old Pharaoh (or Shakers) will not let mt go. They have again produced a publica- tion, the materials of which appear to have been obtained through the greatest intrigue, oppression and fallacy of any collection ever heard of. It is strange to me, that people will be so foolish as to fight against light and truth, when their own conscience anc knowledge bears witness against them. It is hard for them to kick against the truth it is like fire-brands at the tails of the foxes which caused the destruction of the Philis tine's corn. I hope the truth will proven their gathering so great a harvest amon^ the innocent youth as they have done, don't wish to contend for any thing bu truth. I make the following remarks, and leav it with the public to judge. M. M, D. t^cpob .N the Shaker hooir, callctl a Reviexo, P>^g© 5, they; ate, " Whereas there i^ now before the pubjic a ^bellons publication, cntilled a "• Portraiture of Sha- .erism," pulilished by Mary M. Dyer, the materials f which she and her accomplices have beeU mort than iix years in colleciing.'''' As to the time, places, and persons who assisted me, 1 offer the following statcnieDt : In the year 1818, 1 petitioned the second time for the liberty of my children, which, by fraud, were kept among the Shakers. I found no redress. The reasons offered by the Committee were, there was- r»eed of more witnesses of the same nature — if those could be produced there would be a' law of protec- tion. I was sensible such might be easily obtained, as many people, who had left the Shakers, were acquainted with similaj* circumstances. Being willing to do all possible for redress, I moved for- ward in my duty — which led me among strangers ; nothing but a mother's dearest afTcctions could in- duce me. My finding the Shakers n banditti, caused Such a dread, thai at times I declined, when the weight of the cause so rolled on my feelings, 1 was reduced to a sick bed. After suffering days, with much reasoning in my mind, I would again proceed. All people were strangers, and 1 w^ent where T was recommended to go by clirisiian friends ; and ever requested the people lo It-ll me the truth, and I wanted nothing but the truth. 1 was not in the presence of but three when the Justice gave to thetn their oaths on all those attested, which were Joshua Stevens, Mehitable Pattee, and Clement Beck, as follows : I, Clement Beck, of Weare, do testify, that I am son oi Henry and Alice Beck, formerly of Concord, N. H. They joined the Shakers when I was a child — moved to Canterbrury, N. H. where 1 lived with my parents » short time ; then was placed in a family of Shakers, under the care of Ezekiel Morrill. Here 1 began to learn sorrow ; I worked in a blacksmith's shop, and from eleven years old to fourteen, 1 not only worked hard days, but woi'ked many a time all night, heading nails. If 1 declined, my master would swing his cane over my head, and say," I v/ill beat you until the blood runs down in streams." I secretly sent to my father that 1 wished to go away — he came after me. My el- der told me I should certainly go to hell if 1 went away — he talked so frightful, I dare not go. In anguish I fell to the ground, where 1 cried myself to sleep — through much fear 1 got away, and stayed in my father's family about a year— then, by orders from the ministry, 1 was placed in the church family to live. I had broth- ers and sisters in the church, an equal share of mj father's property carried with us. This by order — I was allotted to the blacksmith's trade, where I worked very hard. After 1 got the trade, a day's work for me was to make eight hoes, or six scythes, or six axes in a da}'. I worked seven years, and was not allowed, nei- ther did 1 go forty-five rods from the shop ; then I passed my bounds, went a few rods beyond a rise — where 1 could have more prospect — for this I was pun- ished, though I was twenty-two years old. In conse- quence of hard work, I have been so decrepid and ia such pain, that I could not lay upon a bed ; what sleep 1 had, for three months at a time, was when setting in a chair — meantime work hard days, They allow of no indulgence — they teach their subjects that the more work they do, the greater treasure they will lay up in- heaven — and such as will nut work for this prize, are puuished to make them work. I igstpo time, but work- Cil in this manner until 1 was thirty-eight years old — the last of the time 1 had the care of the shop — al- though, for a trifling offence, they treated me so unrea- sonable, .1 was glad to leave them, I was brought to such distress, life was no object, if I could have died suddenly — but to stay as I was, in such a lingering tor- mented dying state. To go away, I thought would be offensive to God — and I was in years, and ignorant of education or information — nothing to help myself with but my labor — and the best of my days for health were gone. They would not allow me any thing for my work — meantime said, I had done to the amount of two thousand dollars worth, extra of my expense to them ; neither would they let me have so much with interest as I had of my father's property. The reason they gave was, because I had signed their Covenant ; this is required soon alter we become of age. I knew noth- ing about law, or the effect of the Covenant when I signed it. The elder said it was the orders, and if I did not sign it I should be out of union — and could not be owned, and if 1 held back, God would hold my bless- ing from me — but if I would sign 1 should come into full union, and should have that heavenly treasure which I had been laboring for. I believed and obeyed, and endeavored to be as faithful to them as possible — but never found the blessing which was promised — but fognd many grievous hours. Many of their subjects. I think, would not stay there under such slavery and bondage, if they thought there was any other way for eternal happiness ; but there is such absolute testimo- nies against all other way of salvation, it weakens their c )ntidence in every thing else, and destroys the power of mind to escape. At the time I offended them, they falsely accused me of crimes, then requested me to kneel before the Society and own it — I dare not, 1 knew it was false, and believed they did it to shame me be- fore the Society ; reason would teach that I was vexed with abusing language in addition, all of which was very distressing ; as I saw no relief, hard work in com- parison was a pleasure to it ; because I would not own A2 6 this scandal, I wa3 sent forty miles to another Societj, among strangers. I will name some circumstances of cruelly on others. 1 was kept so recluse, 1 had but little opportunity to know what passed on others ; and they are not allowed to tell their troubles or punishments to each other. A «ister of mine, by the name of Hannah Beck, who lived in the same family with me, was very industrious, be- came sick, and was some deranged, but was gentle ; she being ill, refused to work, as they said. They or- dered me to make a chair, that they could confine her to a spinning wheel ; and of sufficient length to spin on the great wheel ; also to reach her couch, which lay upon the floor, for her to sleep on. This was in cold weather,* and the place she was confined in was a wash- shop, in a chamber over the wash-room, and had a sin- gle floor with open cracks, which made her uncom- fortable. There was a small stove in the room, but she was chained so far from it, that she could not reach it, and was dependant on others for w ood and fire, — it was an apartment separate from the men's concerns. However, as I was passing there, \ heard her crying and lamenting. 1 went to the shop, and looked through ihe cracks ; she saw me, and said, " do make me some fire, and light my pipe.'' She begged again and again ; my feelings were sensibly struck, and 1 attempted to go in, but saw two of the sisters coming ; and knowir r I was out of my order, 1 stept a little aside, and heard her continue in supplication, and think she got no re- lief. Again I was passing there, heaixl contention and liard talk ; went to Hannah's room, and there saw one of the leading sisters, with a large stick in hor hand, threatening Hannah to make her work. My sister said, '•' I am sick and cannot spin." I saw the woman strike her three times with the stick. It would not do for me to interfere ; 1 could not bear it, and went away. I afterwards heard that they made her work, and that they stripped her a number of times naked, and whip- * It appears Ihey got lired of vi'n.tching her, as k was cold.-— jJw/ftor. ped her ; afler that, they sent her to what they called world ; and she became better iu health, and regular in her faculties. She again was induced to live with the Shakers, and was placed in Enfxeld Society, in N. H. Just before I left the Shakers, 1 was sent to Enfield, and lived in the same family, and there saw her treated cruelly. She was out of health, and much deciepid with the rheu- matism, and her stomach bones and joints were much drawn out of place in consequence. She worked in the dairy to assist others, and brought Avater for this use from a distance, as they were depending on water brought artificially, Avhich had become mostly dry, as It was a dry season. She frequently passed the shop where I worktd, when I took her pails, and carried her water for her. She was then so lame she could scarcely walk,* and constantly attended with a pain in her stomach. 1 left the Shakers the autumn following, in September, 1815 ; have since heard of my sister's, death, and was glad to hear ske was removed from her slavery. The beautiful appearance of the Shakers, and of their villages, also their good deeds, have no need of being spoken of, as they themselves endeavor to make all these manifest. Another circumstance I minulCj that light and understanding may spring ferth. A girl by the name of Comfort Smith, who was with them, I think was treated with such cruelty, that it shortened her life. The reason they gave for this cru- elty, they said she sinned against her order, which was the ministry, as she lived in the meeting: house with them. They said she left the house at night, and talk- ed with the man on the watch, who was set to guard the meeting-house. The girl was chastised different ways, some 1 will mention. She was secluded or ab- sent for a time — then a writing was drawn, which was called her confession — many of the Shakers were col- lected in a roooi, where she must kneel in the midst^ * 1 heani by one in the family, thai Hanuah died of consumplioa •oics,-^ Autfior, 8 and hear the confession read. While they were read- ing-, she lainted as lifeless. 1 was not an e.ye witness, being a youth, Lut was in a room underneath the cham- ber where they were collected, and heard the noise when she fell, as 1 was afterwords informed rof the whole circumstance hy some who were then present. A few weeks after this, a number of us were called in whore she lay expiring ; she v/as past speech — one made a remark that she thoug-ht she did not understand what they said. The head elder said, he a short time before, had been chastising her, and had awakened her senses. 1 was at a loss to know why it was so — he said " because she had sinned against so high an order* — if * Tiie following st:itemeiU is written by Mary Dyer — not knowiug as I should hnve any further information on the subject, I neglected get- ingit tlien attested to. However, as I have learnt the foregoing state- nient from Clemeut Bpck, I repeats statement on the same subject, (and leave it for ttie jiresent) which I received by the ruoulh of John Heath, of Enfield, N. [I. In May, 1818, I was malting some remark on the Shakers, wiien Mr. Heath said, "I have reason to believe the Shaker leaders do not live in that purity wlucli they profess ; from cer- tain circuni>taiice.s which passed while I lived at Canterl)ury." I was anxious to hear— he stated, that " the Shaker father made me proii ise before I left Canteri'my, not to say any thing about it." I told him he ought to tell the trutli — and that was all I wanted." At the time 1 \\vc\ at Canterbury, I was set at niglit to guard the village. After all Wijs still, Comfort Smith, who lived in the meeting-house, came to me and said, she wisiied me to assist her in going away. I asked her why she should be discontented, knowing that was considered the most holy and higi'.est station among the pei>ple — she said her fears were such she daie not stay, and that fallier (Job Bishop,) was rude with l:er — he v.-ould claspher in his arms, liold iier upon his lap, hug and kiss lier — histreat- ment to lier was such, she felt in danger." "I did not," said Heath, " then think her in so great danger as perhaps 1 ought — was anxious to have the rest of the Society know how the father managed, accordingly reported the same toothcis — it soon get to the father's ears — I was call- ed in question by him, and told him what Comfort said. Father owned that she told the truth—" but," said he, " I took such liberties, that she might he contented, and not wish to go to the world ;" and further said, " you have broke your oiders in hearing her coraplair.t, she has also broke her orders in speaking to you — now, if you will say nothing about it, you shall be forgiven, and have your choice, to go to Enfield or stay lieie"— he knew I had previously desired to go to Enfield to live— by which means I consented to his proposals, went to Enfield, and knew no more about it." Mr. Heath appears like a canNid, steady man ; was he broHght under oall), I think he would attest to the same, if not word for word. Mr. Heath is some embanassed with debt — and per- haps the Shakers by means of, may try to obstruct the truth; But this ■ ^he did not confess she could not die in peace ; it hath caused such judgment of God upon her, it hath short- ened her days." Those judgments spoken of, a&e pun- ishments from the head Shakers, as I shall hereafter shew. There was four of the most sprightly females who went one after the other into the meeting-house to live with the ministry, and all died when adults, and a short time after they were allotted to this situation. Their names were Hannah Looge, Comfort Smith, Ma- ry Chase, and Abigail Sanborn. There .ire tw© men, and two women living together in the meeting house. These give orders for the rest of the Society to obey — which are called gifts from God ; at times, those gifts come in severity, which are called the judgments of God — other times they shew favor, which is called mer- cies from God. The Shakers are so taught, that they think their salvation, or damnation, is pending on their superiors. Those give orders for such a man and wo- man to be united as one in the church. They also state, that these have arrived to such a state of perfection, that they do not commit sin ; there are many coupled out in this manner. There are different grades among them — those which are behind, are left ignbrant of the liberty of the forward ones — however, this we know, they are more together, the diflferent sexes. I have seen Job Bishop with his arms around Hannah Good- rich — he said it was no sin, as he had no desire. Those were the father and mother of Canterbury and Enfield Societies. They would punish others to extremes, for putting their hand on the different sexes. The elders and eldresses have their apartments wherein we must not go, without liberty. They lodge in those rooms, which are in upper lofts in the dining or dwelling house. The father and mother sleep in the third loft in the meeting-house, while their waiters, as they say, sleep in the second loft. The common people in shops, some 1 would have all remennbcr, that there is a powciful God, who will not hold any one guiltless, who seeks tpcovei thetiuthby falsehood, "be- cause there is \viath, beware lest he take thcc away wiibu stroke : tlien •a great ransom cannul deliver ihee." Job xxviii, 18, 10 lU the dwelling-house. My education is poor ; when I was a child and a youth, the Shakers'did not allow their subjects to have learning — what 1 have, I obtained by stealth, contrary to orders — since that the authority has compelled them to give their children some learning — and 1 desire that the authority would remove other of their evils^ 1 think it is wrong for their conveuant (o have force in law ; when they compel their subjects, (in their ignorance) to sign it, and thereby wrong them out of their just rights. The Shakers call themselves deceivers, and yet true — they consider it a crime to speak against their way, though it is true ; and any thing they could say, or do, that appeared to be upholding their society, was right. If they give yon orders to do or say that which you think is wrong and false, you must obey, and the sin will fall on the one that orders you, as they say, there- by they make their subjects do and say almost any thing. 1 have known them, when people were coming to in- spect their schools, make some write composition — then another copy it off better, and show the copy, saying it was the former ones' writing. I have known others make a mark on paper, then another write composition on the same paper, and call it the person's writing who made the mark. It is a common thing for the Shakers to refuse people seeing their relations ; they have different ways of de- ceiving. I was one day with the Deacon, when some people came and inquired alter their relations desiring to see them. Deacon Winkley spake out to me, said, "Clement, go and tell such such and persons, that their friends are here, and wish to see them ;" he stepped a little one side,spBike low, and said, " do you go out around (he shed, and stay there a little time, then com~B and tell the people, their relations do not wish to see them ;" which 1 obeyed. Thus the strangers went away disap- pointed in not seeing their relations. I have known them do similar to this many times. They say these things are deceiving satan, :fhd true to God. Ttiey call themselves the kingdom oi' peace ; yet I have seen 11 more contention among them in one year, than I have among what they call world, since 1 have left the Sha- kers, which is three j'ears. I saw one man so mad with another, that he seized him with his teeth, and bit him so the wound had to be wrapped up. 1 afterwards heard the biter say, he had committed no sin for twenty years. They say the word of God is revealed by the word of mouth, from the leaders. Some among them profess to converse with departed spirits. I have heard Job Bish- op say, speaking of himself, " 1 have seen the Apostles, and they told me, my daj' was greater than theirs ; and that I vv'as before them in glory ;" and further said, "The spirit of Hannah Looge, came to me, the night she ex- pired, and wished to gather with us, (the ministry,) but 1 told her she must gc» to the family that was her order." She was dismissed from the meeting-house and ministry, about three months before, because she was sick. This is a skort sketch of the Shakers, being in haste. CLEMENT BECK. Siaie of mw-Hampshire, I y, „ Hii.LSBOBouGH, ss. ^ weare, Sept. J4, 1B18. Attested before me, ISRAEL PEASLEE, Just. Peace. Clement Beck is a regular citizen. The Shakers made him deny some part of it, as you will see by the following : This certifies, that September 14, 1818, Clement Beck came to my house, where I gave hiA his oath to an affidavit which 1 have since .seen in a book called " A Portraiture of Shakerism," published by Mary M. Dyer. As it was something new to me, I criticised him on the subject : he was frank and told me the particulars. 1 further state that I have seen much of it contradicted by a statement in the N. H. Patriot, April 19, 1824. Said Beck is a neighbor ; I went to him, to know how he could get along in denying it. He said the Shakers said if he did not lake some of it back they would take all his property from him. He does not pre- tend to deny any sentence named in the stat^ntent given before me. I feel clear in my ipind, that the Shaker^, 12 by threatening, imposed on his ignorance. I aonsider' Beck a civil industrious citizen,but his being brought up among the Shakers, caused that lack of information which he had need of for protection. ISRAEL PEASLEE, Jus. Peace. Weare, July 9, 1824. In October, 1818, 1 finished my task ; returned to Enfield among my friends ; began to prepare clothes for winter — when my husband, to embar- rass me, compelled me to go among strangers, un- der a pretence of finding me a home, when pre- viously he had refused rne before the selectmen and many other witnesses. " I, Ruth Payne, wife of William Payne, of Lebanon, N. H. do certify, that in October, 1818, Joseph Dyer, of Enfield, N. H. engaged us to board his wife Mary. She came in November. When she came, her health was bad — she appeared to be oppressed with trouble — he said he should find his wife work, and lay out the benefit to his own profit. She said she had not provid- ed any winter clothes, and he had taken her from her employment* — said she was so far irom her friends she should suffer, if he did not get hw some clothes. In four weeks, he came again, but brought her no clothes. She was sick, and I lent her clothes. I, with my hus- band, talked to Mr. Dyer about it, and were dissatisfied with him. After six weekly he brought her a few arti- cles, which she said Was the only clothing he had found her in five years. He did not deny it. In my acquain- tance with Mrs. Dyer, she appeared like a peaceable, industrious woman, behaved herself with prudence, and I esteem her piety. RUTH PAYNE." The Shakers findTmg Mr. Payne's family to con- demn their proceedings, I was moved to a Mrs* Flood's, who is a friend to every one's face. While *In the fall and wioter, I nroikedat tailoring. :3 at Mrs. Flood's, my husband came in my absence, and took a number of pounds of my wool ; he also had the privilege of searching my trunk foi my pa- pers — but I had carelessly laid them in another place. At another time 1 was out, when I saw my husband go to my boarding house ; 1 went across the field, went into one end of the house, while he was in the other end. I caught my papers and went to a neighbor's. He sought every way possible to embarrass me, but the Lord made for me friends. When no other way would answer their evil minds, my husband, by his authority as a husband, placed me in confinement among the Shakers,* where, for five weeks, 1 had not a change of garment ; and I was not permitted to write a word to my relations, who were at a distance from me. The Shakers were unwilling to let me speak to any person sepa- rate from them. I was shut in this place tor the purpose of obtaining my papers. [See Mary Willis and Polly CUffoi-d^s siatetnmts — Portrailure of Sha- kerism, pp. 400, 401.] *I, Rhoda Flood, do certify, there is a statement in the N. H. Patriot, published in my name, wherein is some mistake ; first, the writing spoken of,* which was brought the first time the Shakers came far Mrs. ■Dyer's things, it was brought to my husband. Second, — the trunk, spoken of, was mine, with contents of Mrs. Dyer's ; this trunk, with its contents, Pettingiil, a Shaker, wished me to give up, and offered nie the money for, wliile she was shut up with tliera. Tliis hath since oc- curred to my mind. I thought Mrs. Dyer meant her trunk. I feel it a duty to correct this mistake, that she -shall not lay under this blaine. RHODA FLOOD. Attest, — Nathaniel Flood, husband to Rhoda. Marcia Flood. Mrs Flood also said, the Shakers betrayed her in another statement, making her deny one given in the Portraiture. When I shew her the original, with her name signed, she said she remembered the circum- stance, and told the particulars. This I leave, as it is of no conse- quence. J • This was an order with my name signed to it, written and gent wjtUout my knowledge. B 14 I, Joshua Stevens, of Enfield, N. H. do certify, that in the year ITS'?, two men, Ebenezer Cooley and Israel Chancy, came to this town ; called themselves men of God, and ministers of the gospel. They said Christ had come the second time to judge the world ; had made hv> second appearance in Ann Lee, and that she was the woman spoken of in Rev. xii., clothed with the sun. and that she was in the resurrection, judging the world. They asserted, that in four years the earth would lose its increase, and all that did not obey their testimony would be swept off by war, famine and pes- tilence ! They said they considered a lease of a farm for four years, as good as a deed ; for they (the Shakers) should live and reign a thousand years. They manifest- ed great power, and told what was done at the mother church ; that they restored broken bones, healed the sick, &c. I exercised every mean possible, to know if there ever was an instance of miraculous healing among them; but have never learned an instance of .the kind ; instead of healing, they have brought on many deep wounds. By their fair appearance, and severe testimo- ny against sin, they cast a mist over the minds of most of the people in this town, who fell in with their doc- trine ; some have since escaped. Such havock was made in families, as is past imagination to any, only those who are acquainted with similar — husbands and wives contending — mothers deprived of their children, and brought into a forlorn state — there has been more or less such wounds until the present day. The sum- mer of 1819. I heard they had a woman by the name of Mary Dyer in continement — went six miles to the Shakers to know if it was true. 1 found her under strict watch by her husband and another Shaker — she ap- peared disheartened and out of health — she said it was about foui' weeks since she had any clothf^s to change — was desirous to have some clothes, if she could not have , her liberty. The appearance of her situation was af- fecting. Knowing the Shakers' despotic government, I made many proposals for her release. 1 offered to be. 15 come bound to any amount that she shuuld return, ii they IV on Id liberate her until ^hc could get her clothes. Her husband positively refused every proposal. I ask- ed him why he was not willing to let her go ? He said, " it is not my pleasure." I g;^ve them to understand if they did not treat her better, they would have trouble. — 1 further state that there ought to be a provision made 'by law for women and their offspring, in case the hus- band becomes duped to the Shaker principles. Their deception is such, men of abilities are liable to be ru- ined bj' them. A man of my acquaintance (John San- born) was sprightly, well educated ; yet he became du- ped to the Shakers, was fully of their faith, believed they had power to save or damn the souls of men. Af- ter much faithful servitude, they sentenced him to hell !! He endured this sentence a number of months, found no remission, but condemning him more and more ; great- er and greater torments were threatened — he became discouraged — hanged himself — left a wife and family of children. [ I saw him just after he was taken down.] JOSHUA STEVENS. State, of JVew- Hampshire,} ■, ^ n -mm Grafton, ss'^ \ Lyme. Jan. 9, IH'zO. Tlien personally appeared the above-named Joshua Stevens, and made solemn oatli that the above, bv liini sub'^cri led, is just and true. Bcfoic me, JONATHAN FRANKLIN, Jw.-f. Ptue. My husband even said, / should never escape, un- less 1 z'jould give up my papers. 1 had no liberty in my feelings to give them up, though I perished there. When I had been ths rt more than three weeks, the Shakers asked me, if I did not wish to see my children ? 1 told them, "• No;" luid for t'lese rea«ions : vvhei;) I was in a condiiion siiit;ib!e to see them, I was prohibited ; now when 1 am dirty and almost ilishearlened, you want me to see them, that you can mock at th< m, saying, " ihere see your old dirty world's mother, full of trouble, and you wii'i be just like her, if you go to the world." The children were sojn conducted in. I soon found that 16 u.'e children had been told that 1 was there of choice. Afier the children came in, the number of persons in the room were eleven. There was but three chairs, a shaving horse and shavings, where my husband shaved wheel-stuff, and a number of large handspikes, which were kept as weapons to defend with, in case any should come to relieve me. I had previously told them, I thought they did not hold to fighting. The}'' said they had. a right to fight " dogs and sorcerers ; and all without the gate are dogs and sorcerers." When I began to talk with my children, I felt very much overcome — I told them I was ever glad to see them, but did not wish to see them as 1 was placed, but I was kept there, and could not help myself. My daughter at- tempted to sooth my grief ; she said, " if you don't think you are confined, you will not feel so bad — I don't think of that, and I do not feel confined — and your clothes do not look bad.^^ I saw tears fall from some of my children's eyes. Ah ! poor captives, — they left the room. Awful to consider, that any mother is as liable to be parted from their children as I was. The only difference in protec- tion is, the information which hath been produced by the most severe sufferings and cruelty, which I have endured ; still some are short sighted enough to look on me with derision, because I am reproach- ed by Shakers and their cruel advocates — not even consider that they will strive to injure me all in their power, without any regard to truth or inno- cence. After the children went out, grief so seized me, it set me puking, until it seemed insupportable. My husband said he thought I could not live, while I was kept in this place. A number of persons came for my relief, when my husband said he would fight 17 as long as he had strength, and then he would takelfr^, ihein into the law, if they offered to touch me. I was held in this condition until a friendly stranger helped me away. A defenceless woman, or a duped man, the Shakers encroach on their rights as they please. I sorrow in my heart that 1 was ever the mother of a child to sutler. My health was so re- duced in this prison, that after my escape, I was no? able to attend to my writing for two years. Nov. 1820, I came to Concord, N. H. to have the work published. I shew the work to Mr. Moore, and requested his assistance in arranging the v:ork, as it was in a promiscuous position. He looked over the sheets, said if he could find leisure to at- tend to the work himself, h*^ .ould do it from those sheets without being transcribed. Shortly he said he was so pressed with business, he could not at- tend to it, and advised me to have the work care- fully examined and re-written. I then applied to Judge Gale, of Gilmanton. He is a literary man, and a good judge of law. I requested him to ex- amine the depositions, and see if the Shakers could get the advantage of those who gave them. He read the whole work, assi.'-ted in arranging it, and in numbering the pages. After which, I applied to Judge Phiibrick's family at Weare, N. H. for board, who himself assisted me in drawing the work over.'^ -I was of ill health, and could do but little writing in a day. Here I pause, and bless Providence for my inabil- ity at this time, which cnused those three men, and these only, to have perfect knowledge of my pro- cecdings5'':^nd whose characters for good morals are not exceeded by any. These are thi- persons whom the Shakers call my " accomplices." I asked their ay^^yZ.'^^ ^ <^*y /A-4^ ^ '^'ui jLov^,i f- 29 ■f subject of the Portraiture of Shakerism, published by Mary M. Dyer, I consider those statements produced by treachery and falsehood, imposing on the public and individual persons. 1, being a justice of the peace, make the following remarks : The statements of Sarah Tibbets, Joshua Fletcher, Betsy Looge, Josiah Watson, Noah Wiggin, I adminis- tered to them the oath ; and also to others that have aot appeared in the Patriot. And each of those depo- sitions was done without partiality, or deception. After those depositions Avere written, I read each of them to the persons, when they signed the same, and I gave them their oaths. Since those statements were pub- lished, denying some part .of those statements in the Portraiture, I have examined and compared with some of the original affidavits and copies, which I have novp- in possession, and find the Portraiture correct, except the statement of Josiah Watson, the most vulgar of which is omitted, beirig published in the Portraiture. The said Watson wrote his affidavit with his own hand, (as he said) and brought it to me, at Canterbury, and made oath to the same. I, therefore, request the prin- ters, who have printed for the Shakers, to publish this, fori consider myself injured in my own feelings, and in the eye of the public. Whenever I transact any busi- ness as a magistrate, I consider myself under oath. Respectfully yours, OBADIAH MOONEY, Jus. Peace. Stewarts'town, May 10, 1824. A^orthfield, June Ut., 1824. Th>'i certifies, that in August 1818, I gave Sarah M. L. Sewell her oath tcfen affidavit, which lliave seen in a book, called a Portraiture of Shakerism, by Wary M". Dyer. I further state, that I read the affidavit, above alluded to, in her presence, and asked her, if she could «afely attest to it. She answered " yes.-' And I fur- ther recollect, in reading the affidavit, when 1 can)e to the passage where she stated about the improper con- duct shewn to her, by one of the brethren, I stopped. C 2 30 and asked her if it was possible it could be true. She answered, " yes, it was." Then I proceeded, and read the remainder of the affidavit ; and according to the best of my recollection, I think that the affidavit, in said book, contains the same which she gave oath to, before me. CHARLES GLIDDEN, Just. Peace. This may certify, that I was present when Esq. Glid- den read the above named affidavit to Sarah M. L. Sew- ell — saw her sign her name, and give her oath, and can witness to the above recollection stated ; and that Mrs. I)yer was not present at the time of taking said affida* vlt. JOHN LYFORD, Just. Peace. This may shew, that the fifth day of June, I called at Thomas Sewell's, brother to Sarah L. Sewell, where I had some talk with his wife. I asked her how the Sha- "kers got their statement with Sarah's name to it. She Said, " Sarah was here, when they came, and asked her about her statement published in the Portraiture. She told them it was the truth, (and I had before heard Sa- rah tell all the particulars — and that Stephen Merrill, a Shaker leader, was the one vho compelled her to his passion) the Shakers appeared in a rage, and frightened her to sign. When they read their statement, (which was written when they came*) I told them before the justice, that Sarah could not take a safe oath, to what they had written. 1 found they were determined to make her comply, and I left the room. After they were gone, Sarah said she was so frightened she did not know what she signed her name to — and she appeared almost , dis- tracted ; she is a poor weak, disheartened creature, and had no power of mind to defend herself." I told her to tell Sarah, from me, that the truth would clear her now, and the way that was true ; to be sure to say, at * I learnt at Meredith, that the Shakersa'ook the Portrai urc into a shop, where they prepared the statement to their mind, before they went to Mr. Sewell's. 31 all dmes, when she said any thing about it, for 1 was sura there was no comfort for her in this life, and I hoped she would not destroy her soul, if she had her body. They said, they wished I could see her. I told them I thought I should not know her, as I had never seen her but a short time once. — Mrs. Sewell said I might state the above. MARY M. DYER. At Meredith Bridge, I saw two receipts, belonging to a couple of merchants, which were previously given to Israel Sanborn, a Shaker deacon, when those receipts were returned for settlement ; on one, the figures were altered in two places, and the other in one — favoring the deacon in the price. If any doubt the truth of this as- sertion, the receipts and witnesses can be produced. If the Shakers take the advantage of those who have been their subjects, I hope other people will find power to detect them. MARY M. DYER. I, Josiah Watson, would inform the public, that the Shakers came to my house to make me give them some statement, to contradict my statement, published in the Portraiture of Shakerism. 1st. They questioned me to know if it \vis worded just as I worded it ; I told them not exactly, but was the same in essence. This I still say, only the worst was omitted, because of immodesty. 2d. They wrote their statement, published in the Patri- ot, and equivocated about some things like this, of the Bible not being read. Our Leaders said, the Bible was of no use more than an old almanack, for it was an old back dispensation, and wished there was not a Bible ia the world. 3d. They hare stated as though Dolly M'Horn was all the one that kneeled to Ann Lee, when at a distar,'',e. But I have seen and heard Elder Joseph Meacham say in meeting, that he felt to kneel down before Mother and Elder William, and he kneeled down, and all the rest, which was near three years after their death. Their third statement I. deny. I told them that among all th«^ir j^rofes3ions, thej did \\vo in vvhorttdom. Some of thoir improper conduct was done b}' orders, and some by gifts. 4th. The child beino^ carried to the woods, another hung ovji of the chamber window, I was informed of was orders, and believe it to be true. 5th. The women nursing the men, was a gift of Edmund* and James Lougee, which I saw. 6th. My deposition doth not state the way I had my information how the minister attempted to h'r'al a sick man, but one of his own brothers told me. 7th. The girl who was stripped and whipped so unmercifully, and then put out of the window naked, was done by orders, as I heard. 8th. It is not in my deposition, that Abraham Blodgett was an Elder. I never said, nor stated to Mary M. Dyer, any thing contained in my deposition, for I wrote it myself, and this I also write. And 1 have now a pamphlet of sixty pages, which I wrote for my own satisfaction. Let the truth reign. JOSIAH WATSON. Attest, Mary Watsow, John Lyford. Northfield, June 3, 1824. I have of late heard, that the Shakers have said^ that the unseemly conduct among them was conducted by me. 1 utterly deny it ; and further state, that if the Shakers don't let me alone, I will expose their filthy abominations, which hath not yet been exposed. JOSIAH WATSON. Northfield, June 7, 1824. I wish the printers to publish what this contains. ■ Bets^ Foster had previously given a statement to the Shakers, on the promise she made belore she left them, to speak well of them. See her testimony in the ^Portraiture^ p. 210. * Who died w hen an Elder among them. 33 I, James Foster, of Canterbury, N. H. do state, that I am husband of Betsy Foster, who hath her statement published in the Portraiture of Shakerism, which ig true, as far as 1 had any knowledge of the circumstance. By attending the Shaker^s meeting, conversing with them, seeing their neatness and regularity, 1 was per- suaded to believe them the only true church of God, and that I could find salvation no other way but that. In 1801, 1 set out in obedience to their orders, v/hich is the first requirement. After a time, by this obedi- ence, 1 gave up my family and property— this in 1807. Soon after I moved into their family — they requested me to sign their Covenant — which if I did not, they could not own an}' union with me, (or fellowship) which would shut me from their salvation, which 1 believed would make me miserable here and hereafter — I sign- ed. Next, 1 must be rid of natural affections ; and in case my children were sick or in trouble, I was not al- lowed to take any notice of them. I had to sign a bond, to bind myself not to have any care or controul over them in any condition while with them, or to molest in their work, government, or faith in principles. When I moved in with them, I carried to them about seven hundred dollars, free from expense. This, with inter- est, and twelve years and a half of hard work, which I have done for them, they have got ; except about two hundred dollars which 1 have since paid out for my ^amiiy. The most for a sick son, who came from the Shakers, and who afterwards died at Mr Kimball's, in Concord, N. H. And since 1 left them, I have request- ed of them to let me have my just rights in property — they said they were under no obligation to pay me any, as I had signed their Covenant ; but if 1 would give them a receipt in full, they would do something. They have let me have in all, by much interceding, what they called about three hundred dollars' worth — some in old furniture. All I had could not be called of more value than two hundred dollars in money, which is all I can ohtain. 34 I left them in 1820 — am now fifty-eight years old. All persons who unite with them, must be in obedience to their orders or gifts. The last reason for my leav- ing them was, old people are neglected, and I was also neglected, and found I must take care of myself, or not be took care of This, with other things, shew me that their religion was vain. It is now my humble prayer, that the authority would do something to protect the families of such men as should be deceived by the Shakers ; and that they should have no more power to hold a man's property, or profit of his labor, than any other people. This 1 humbly pray. JAMES FOSTER. State of JVeia-Hampshire, } t „ ,„»>• MERRIMACK, ss. i June 8, 1824. Then came the above named James Fester, and made solemn oath, that the above statement, by him subscribed, is just and true. Before me, SAMUEL FORREST, Jus. Peace. I, Asa Pattee, of Canaan, do testify, that some time In the month of March, 18?4, the Shakers sent for me and my wife, to come and see them. They came and carried us over very kind, saying, to see my wife's broth- er among them. When we got there, they contended for two days. Their chief discourse was to make me counteract the statement given by me, in the Portrai- ture of Shakerism, published by Mary M. Dyer. 1 ut- terly refused, for it is truth ; and as I before stated, on- ly some sentences are put more modest, than I before stated. The Shakers handed forth a paper with writ- ing on it, which they wished me to sign, (shewing this variation.) I told them the statement published, was not so bad as they had conducted — if they would let me give a statement in full, I would sign it. Thej'^ then were willing to withdraw their paper. — It would be a real satisfaction to me, to have the privilege of relating to the General Court, by word of mouth, these facts. I feel as though the Shakers are trying to injure Mrs. 35 T)yer by stating falsehood, as I have seen their statie- ments iu the Patriot. ASA PATTEE. Attest, Thomas Miner, Amos Miner. April 2^^ 1824. Tht folloroing is stated by Colonel Pattee, son to the above. 1, Daniel Pattee, of Canaaa, state of New-Hampshire, state, that I have heard that the Shakers have denied my statement, published in the Portraiture of Shakerxsm, published by Mary M. Dyer. 1 now state, that the state- ment is a fact ; and such conduct was common in Ann Lee's day ; and it was not called, by them, indecent or improper. DANIEL PATTEE. Attest, James Pattee, Moses D. Pattee. .Upril 26, 1824. < I, Alice Beck, of Canterbury, N. H. state, that I was born in Greenland, N. H, near District of Maine, certify, that a few months since, two Shakers (Francis Winkley and John Whicher) came to my house very plausible. Tiiey handed forth a book, (the Portraiture ot Shaker- • ism) began to read a statement published, which I had given. As they read, they questioned me. I told them it was true — this again and again. They disputed me. I told them it was certainly true. They shnt their book, appeared in anger — tried to beat me down, that ii was a lie. I felt to confirm it in such a way, they ceased their imposition on me for that time. After a few weeks, they sent for two of my sons (Henry and Charles) who live with, and by me, to come and see them. When they went, the Shakers had a writing drawn up for them to sign, which if they wou'd not, the Shakers threatened, saying, they could and would take the advantage oi them !h some land, in consequence of the bounds beirrg lost. 36 Mv sons read the writing — found it not according to trnth, and caltalated to cut some part of my statement, published in the Portraiture. Henry said, he would not sign any such thing — he would lose all his land first. He returned, home and related to me the above. They afterwards came with some of our townsmen, and a sur- veyor — pretended they could take some of our land ; but if my sons would sign the writing, they would do nothing about it. Henry said it made his title no better by his signing their writing — if it would be his then, it was now — that his iather felt himself injured in the thing until his death — but he wished for no quarrel, and would do nothing about it — if they wanted a quarrel, they might begin as soon as pleased. He hath since found a writing, showing the particulars, which was then mislaid. Thus they equivocate, to cover the truth. And my distressed son, at Wearo, N. H. (Clement Beck) who lived with the Shakers until he was thirty eight years old^ — and since he came from them, he has been v«ry diligent accumulating some property — thus he was entirely ignorant of law. In their condition, as 1 un- derstood, they went to him to make him sign to a state- ment denying the truth, which was als« published in the above-named book. I have since learnt, that when they could not make him deny it with fair reasoning, they threatened him, saying, if he did not sign to satisfy them, they had power to take from him his property, aad put * •him in the State Prison ; and that lawyer Webster told them so. After staying four hours parlying with him, he signed their statement. They wished him to attest to it. He said he would be drawn in quarters first. They could get none to witness, only one of themselves, ■and a man deaf, and almost blind ; and who never had common abilities. This son's statement was written in Boy presence and is what he has stated among the neigh- bors, (the same published in the Portraiture) and they believing him an honest man hath caused to be more dis- satisfied v.ith the Shakers for their last treatment to Clement, than any thing bef«re done. I feel to reflect, 37 that I was any way the cause of having my children plac- ed where thosr of good natural abilities are brought iTp 90 ignorant of the auViority and protection as to he thus imposed on. Since my son left the Shakers, he has ac- curnulated a pretty property — hath enjoyed himself ve- ry well, until this last imposition of the Shakers, which, I learn, hath much affect-ed him in mind and health — 1 hope it will be a warning to all oth«drs. Great in the insinuation of the Shakers, 1 feel hurt seeing the Bap- list professors' names attached to statements denying some part of their statements, published in the Portrai- ture*, which I know they have frequently stated. I also know, that the same was thought and practised among the Shakers. I have seen children taken out of bed (by our elder brothers) and pnt into water, to puni.sh them ; and we were taught, that scriptures were of no use — We must know our duty, by our elders, and be in strict obedience to their orders, whether right or wrong to us. It has been frequently the case, that people were forbid seeing their children and relations. Any one that has been acquainted with the Shakers, know these things are true. Threats and bribes are frequent. ALVJE. BECK. Attest, Israel Davis, Isaiah Chase. State of J^ew-Hampshire, \ Mkrrimack, ss. \ July 14, 1824. Persuiially appearing, tiie within named Alice Beck, and made sol- emn affirmation that the within affidavit, by her subscribed contains the truth. Before me, THOMAS BROWN, Just. Peace. We, the undersigners, have heard it suggested, that the ShakePo have stated that Alice Beck is a person de- ranged in her mental faculties. We state that we have been acquainted with her for years, and consider her of a sound mind and understanding, and a person of uncom- mon good abilities. THOMAS BROWN, NANCY BROWN, ISRAEL DAVIS, A. E. THOMPSON, PHILIP BROWN, JOSIAH SARGENT. See the testimony, of Alice Beck, Portraiture », 141 to I7t^ D 38 Are not those sufficient to shew how the Shakeis got their statements ? \n the Shaker book, pages 7, 8, 1 am challenged to prove one instance of abuse or immoral conduct whatever, transacted or patron- ized by any true member of the Society. I refer you to the Portraiture, where are many attested witnesses. 1 insert the following, they being short, I, Moses Jones, oi Enfield, N. H. do testify, that I once was a member of the Shaker society ; and in the time 1 was an eye-witness of many surprizing' scenes — some I will mention. When they were gathered in a meet- ing, they clenched a female of their Society with sever- ity, tore off her cap, pulled her hair, threw her down, kicked her, pushed her, dragged her around the room by hfer hair, jammed and beat her to that degree, that it was with difficulty that she got her breath. They left her on the floor ; and from her appearance she was almost lifeless. I was surprized, and asked the Elder why they treated her so — he answered, '' because she had testified in public, as a duty, that Ann Lee was lecherous, and cohabited with the Elders."* I see them attempt to cast out devils, heal the sick, but to no ef- fect. A woman whom I was acquainted with from a youth, who was a regular steady person, until she, with her husband, joined the Shakers ; after that, she be- came crazy, and continued so until her death. This woman was a subject of their pretensions in healing. This, with drunkenness, and other conduct too indecent to pen, caused me to believe them deceivers, and I left them. MOSES JONES. State ^^^m.HampsMr^,'^ Enfield. May 30, 1818. Attested before me, JESSE J. FOGG, Jtts. Peace. I, the subscriber, certify that Moses Jones is a man of respectability, and is a deacon in regular standing in the church in Enfield. JESSE J. FOGG. • I have since learnt that the woman who attested against Ann Lee, was a second, or waiter to Ann. 39 I, Daniel Pattee, of Canaan, county of Grafton, Stato of New-Hampshire, do testify, that when I was nineteen years of age, 1 joined (and my father's family) a society of Shakers in Enfield, N. H. — continued with them about two years, when I went to the State of New-York, to visit the Elect Lady, and the Elders of the church. They assembled at their house of worship, in which were about fifty persons ; there 1 saw Ann Lee locked in the arm of a naked man ; ihey placed themselves in the centre of the company. One man asked Ann Lee if he might strip oft" his clothes — answer, " yes, you may all strip," and likewise all of the men stripped off their clothes ! and continued in that situation dancing and carousing for the space of three or four hours. I fur- ther state, this and other conduct caused me to leave them, as this w as the conduct of the church and leaders of the Society. DANIEL PATTEE. Grafton, ss. Canaan, May 27, 1818. Attested before mc, JESSE J. FOGG, Jus. Peaci. \_See Daniel Pallet's statement^ page 35.] I, Betty Morse,, of Salisbury, N. H. do state, that in the first da3^s of the Shakers' doctrine being preached at Loudon and Canterbury, N. H. 1 was present, was soon induced to believe they were a good people, and joined them, (I was twenty-one years of age) ; which joining was to confess my sins, and be in obedience to their commands. We were ordered not to read the Scrip- tures ; my being a professor of religion previous, it caused me to shade my windows at night to read, and at times have read the Bible the most of the night through. They prophesied, that the world should stand but four years— -their assertions were such, they frightened many to join them. After I joined them, my friends were dissatisfied, and threatened taking me away, when 1 was conveyed to Enfield for concealment, — where I was astonished at a circumstance, viz. Lydia Williams, wife of William Williams, who was a woman esteemed among the Shakers, one .evening, she having great 40 ^igns and operations, prophesied to the family, that the world would be destroyed that night, sat them in great terror and horror. She then fell on the tioor in agita- tion ; John Johnson, uniting with her in the prophesy, ako fell, when they rolled at times together, other times apart. After awhile all ceased, the judgment pas- sed, and the world still remained. At this time I was an unbeliever of the prophesy, and I was ordered to fall to the floor and lick the dust, which I did. Soon after I joined them I was promoted to ride with the min- istry from place to place, which caused me to become acquainted with many singular circumstances. Some I will name. Once when I was going with Ebenezer Cooley and James Jewet, they pretended that they had a suffering to bear foroneof the Society, which had confessed a sin. Cooley said he would not bear it, when Jewet, to prepare himself, stripped part of his garments off, so as to set bear in the water, which he did for sometime. When night came, rum was the an- tidote, when our Elder was dead drunk, and he puked shamefully. In the morning he wished me to start a journey with him to the eastward — I refused going — then he gave orders to have all the Shakers reject me — this for a punishment. After this, I, with three of the head Elders, started a journey to the Mother Church, at New-York. When we came to a spring or brook of good water, they would say, here is a good tavern, when we stopped, [they kept the best of spirits,] we were ordered to drink half a pint of rum each. I took mine, instead of drinking it, i poured it over my should-er, and dipped water, and drank — thus deceived them. While with them I have spilled gallons of spirit in this way — thus keep so-ber, while they have been so drunk they were not able to ride, and have gone into the thick woods and lay for hours, before they could ride. When we got to the church, I found it the common practice to drink hard, and 1 believe rum was the cause of the death of Ann Lee, William Lee, and James Whitaker. Ann Lee died while I was at the church, and buried. 41 While at ihe church, Love Meachatti, neice of Jo-»- seph Meacham, a young woman, said she thought the Mother was drunk— then she was reprimanded lor false iuelging the Mother — after much reproving her, she confessed she was wrong ; then, for her punishment, she was stripped naked, and walked between two rows of the brethren, when each one struck her a blow, then followed her and whipped her further. They had a custom at the church of stripping the females and putting them in a creek of water, which practice was continued while the Mother lived. I saw a man, by the name of Joseph Bennet, when he asked the Mother if he might put Rhoda Chace iuto the creek ? the Mother said, " Yea, Joseph" — when he stripped and the girl was stripped, and he took her into the water — she cried all the time. She was ever con- sidered a clever girl. All those females who were not willing to go in, she would order to it, to humble them and mortify their pride. When at Niskeuna, I saw Hannah Kendall, [after- wards Mother of Harvard and Shirley Society.] When living with Ann Lee, came to the Elder's room naked, and talked with them. This I think was done in obe- dience to the order of Ann, first Mother. One night, there was many men and women stripped naked, and danced together — I was in another room, but heard them, and saw seven of them when they came cut to dress, while others went another way. The de- scription of Ann Lee was, shortish, thick set, of a har- dy countenance ; she was vulgar in her conversation, she wore a strap cap, with a chip hat, she had a large scar on her forehead — William Lee was a large boned man, sandy complexion— James Whitaker was a mid- dling sized man, dark hair, well looking — Ocknal was shortish, thick set — Partenton was also shortish, all of which were foreigners. Ann Lee professed to be the second appearing of Christ, and her followers must believe the same ; she said she knew the minds of all men, and that she con.- D2 42 verged with angels and departed spirits ; and that Moses and Elias, the Apostles, and all the ancijmt saints, come and confessed their sins to har and the Elders, and that they could tind no salvation, until this confession of sin to them ; they professed to have the only power to for- give sin, or save lost men. We were compelled to obey every order from our superiors, otherwise we were sentenced to judgments, which sometimes had a pow- erful effect upon us. 1 found them fallacious in many things — was not at all times willing to obey their or- ders, for which I was chastened. Once a judgment was sentenced on me, I was bound in a condition helpless, for hours ; we were ordered to kneel to our leaders and worship them — we were forbid speaking of any dis- satisfaction or discontent, and positively forbid saying ' any thing against that vvay, though it was truth, for that was the way of God. As to children, none were permitted to live with their parents. 1 have taken some from the water pit, •when put in by orders from the one who had the care of them. This was practiced, till I told them I would enter a complaint to the selectmen of the town. Whea children eight years old were stinted to knit a feeting a day, bearly for turning their head from their work, I have seen this mistress wring their nose until the blood run. I have seen children kept on their knees through the day, knitting, only when they went to eat ; if they attempted to rise, be further punished. 1 was with them twelve years, six years trying to find my salvation by this obedience, then six years in trying to get confidence to leave them. Their threatenings were such, I thought I must go to hell if I left them — their conduci was such, I was in trouble among them. At length a brother came, and assisted me in getting away. After which, I was so terrified for fear tbej would come after me, or that they had power to make me miserable, thatl could not rest for a considerable time. There ^s certainly great infatuation on all who believe on them. During the time I was with them they made me pass 43 receipts every year— When I left them I had not clothes liecent to wear. This is but a short sketch of the many scenes I have seen and passed through while with them, written ac- cording to the best of my memory. BETTY MORSE. State of J^ew-Hatnpshire, ) ^ 24 1824 Merrimack, ss. ^ y - . • Personally appeared the above named Betty Morse, and solemnly affirmed the above named deposition, by her signed, was just and true, according to the best of her remembrance. Before me, BENJAMIN LITTLE, J«s, Peace. The above named Bettj Morse is a member in regular standing in the Congregalional church, in Salisbury, N. H. Taken from the mouih of Leavit Clough, of Can- terbury, N. H. in September, 1318 : — I was once a member of the Shakers' society. I left the Baptists and joined them, believing them a more god- ly people. Their outward appearance always is fair, I continued among them, until I found bad practices among the leaders. In the time I went to the State of New-York to s^e the first Mother and her Elders. When I arrived there, the Shakers said she was under great sufferings, and could not be seen — I waited a number of days — at length I told them 1 should iiot leave until I had seen her, as it was a great distance I had come — they consented. I had much anxiety, with fears, concerning her. I had heard so much of her greatness and power, my apprehensions were, that the rays of God's glory shone so about her, that my eyes could not behold her for the dazzle. — But alas, Tvhen I entered the room, my disappointment was great. She appeared like a drunk- en woman — the smell of her breath was like the smell of a rum hogshead opened. She ordered me to sit be- fore her— -she attempted to talk, but her sentences were broken. She appeared unable to walk. I believed her intoxicated — (this was Ann Lee.) At another time there was a report in Canterbury of a mob arising against the 44 Shakers. I went immediately to the Elders' room to acquaint them — run up stairs, and rushed in, without lih- erty. The first Elder sat in a chair, to appearance so drunk, that he was unable to arise — a bottle of rum stood near, by his side, on the table. The assistant El- der, with a woman, sprang from the bed — they appear- ed frightened — the man's clothes were not natural — the woman had her cap off, and her hair was much tang- led — the bed had the like appearance — this Elder, as soon as convenient, flew to the bottle of rum — brought it to me — urged me to drink. Th^ Elders' names were Ebenezer Cooley and Israel Chancey .* At another time I saw Deacon Zadock Wright raging with temper — he swore, and called some of the Shakers damn'd devils and bitch whores — a married man had seduced the girls to his will. Their abuse to children, breaking up fam- ilies, turning off their poor, I think is wrong. Stated by LEAVIT CLOUGH. The reasons that Mr. Clough's testimony was not attested by a magistrate, were, he said it was true, and he had told all the neighbors of it now, and there was no need of his giving his oath to it. He is considered a very pious- man, and I thought it would appear as though I doubted his veracity if I insist- ed on it. The Shakers have been to hiin, as 1 un- derstand, trying their influence, but they cannot iHcve him. Among thirty or forty depositions of this nature, it is not impossible that the Shakers, by their threats and importunity, catching at words, should decoy some of those injured persons, who had once been duped by them. The Shakers have no conscience of truth or error, only to carry their point. Page 11, the Shakers ask why their accusers da not bring them to justice ? I answer — The manner *Tbey both contintted with the ShakeiSr 45 of your proceedings is thus : Orders are given ou{-, (obedience is always required) that when perform- ed, produces cruelty and injustice. If this is borne with, all is well — If it gives uneasiness — is likely to bring disgrace or loss of numl)ers, the serpent will twist about, the orders are denied, the one who in obedience must obey his orders to save his boul, and avoid punishment — must now take the blame on himself, and perhaps be punished as for a fault, to screen the head or church from blame. You know this is truth. The sufferings of Comfort Smithave proveable by witnesses, who have appeared since the Portraiture was published, (which are reserved.) I ask, who ■shall be taken for the crime? The orders of course were from the head " Bishop," spitting his venom on her, because she exposed him, but it was those ordered who put her in the horse-barn ; then she was cruelized according to further orders. She died ! ! Now, in case any one could be convicted of any of this cruelty, the reply would be," All this would not have been allowed of, if the ministry* had known it ;'"" when in truth all those orders are from the head Shakers ; and my husband said he must obey his orders, keeping me imprisoned, if my grief was such as to cause my death. A person might as well go to the infernal regions and convict old Beelzebub of his crimes, by his tormented sub- jects, as to convict those head Shakers, while their subjects think they ought to support them in all their orders and acts, and even take a fault on them- selves to screen their leaders from blame — which my husb-ind said was his faith, and must be mine, or I could not be a good Shaker. This was ap- * The ministry ate Job Bishop ainl others, residing in the meeting ^ouse. 46 plauded by the elders, who were then present — and I told them then, " It was enough for me to bear my own faults ; other folks might bear theirs.'^ They were then trying to make me take a fault, as 1 have above described. The day is soon coming, when all will see as they are seen by Omnipotence, and know as they are known by him. Page 12, the Shakers refer all to read their publi- cation, " Christ's second appearing," or Shaker Bi- ble, to learn their principles. Your second edition, in places which most expose you, are altered from your first. This work condemns all other people, whatever, because no others have Ann Let for a Sa- viour. If any person or people, are disposed to up- hold them, against all others in life — and particular- ly against those who have suffered by them, worse than a common death — I desire such to come under her institution, and taste a little of the bitterness which her subjects partake of, or otherwise be hon- est, and act for the liberty of others, that yourselves would like to possess. Page 13, they " challenge Mary M. Dyer, or any other person, to substantiate the abominable princi- ples and conduct which she has slanderously palm- ed on us." As to your principles and conduct, they are abominable ; but as to your being slandered, I deny it. That which is stated, is effectually proved by the most substantial evidence ; and you say, page 6, " But if the foundation of any theory is proved false, what truth can be expected from that which is built thereon V I apply this to yourselves — see Ann Let and her elders — a drunken set of robbers. Not only robbing people of their properties and fam- ilies, but their characters, if possible. Indeed you possess such a filthy spii-it and disposition, that none can touch you with the least confidence in your prin* 47 cip!es, without being blackened as with indf>Ubl« ink — unless it can be forgotten that they ever knew you. I never even thought, that I could be reproach- ed, until my husband fell in with your principles ; and whnt hath passed since, God knows, and will judge in his own time. You have crushed hundreds down by your cruel, ov rbeariiig spirit. This you know, and tremble. Now, Shakers, as you know those things published in the Portraiture are correct, why do you urge me to expose you further ? I was in hopes you would cease in your wickedness. But you are determined to cover t«iic trutn with false- hood — break up families — horde up the property of others — make slaves and monsters of other people's children. Better for you to have your own lawful children — this might prevent the destroying young females from oS" the earth ! My family are perish- ing and dying among you, and those who have as- sisted the Shakers in their power to hold my chil- dren, m:iy consider themselves as assisting in holding my daughter in those flames which have consumed her ! ! Jirhe was my only daughter and darling child — and admired by all who saw her. She is gone — she is no more ! ! I now plead for my sons, and a law of protection for mothers and children when the father joins the Shakers. My sons are of some bigness ; yet the sooner they are away the better. 1 wish their escape before they get the capitals of Jinn Lee stamped upon them ; and as they are not learning any trades, when they are of age, they will have nothing to help themselves with. A letter from Mary Grain, wife of Robert Grain. Dalton, July 17, 1818. Dear Friend — I now embrace an opportunity of writ- ing to you, as like circumstances have been our lot. As you were acquainted with my circumstances while with 48 the Shakers, you must needs know what my troubles were and now are. Mary, I have waded through scenes of trouble since 1 saw you. Through the influence of the Shakers, my family have been broken up, and my dear children torn from my arms ! I lived there after- wards, five months, and only saw them once, that the Shakers knew of, except at meeting. My poor little Mary Ann was taken from me — she went like a lamb to the slaughter • She went to meeting the next sabbath ; so did I. The poor child sat crying and sobbing, as though she would break her heart ; but I was not al- lowed to speak to her. Oh, the distress 1 was in. I could uot eat, sleep nor work. Eldress Molly Mills told me,underthis weight of trouble and distress,if Mary Ann would not stay where the place was provided for her. we must bind her to the world. Such a healing balm I had for my wounded heart, when the^ would not let me have the care of her. 1 found my health wast- ing fast — I knew not what to do. To go any further from my children, 1 thought I could not ; but I found I could not stay in such a condition — I was almost distract- ed. Their influence over me was so piercing it capti- vated my reason, brought me into a delirium. A great part of the time after they took my children, I was in- capable of any work, I long to see you and converse with you. I was not allowed to speak lo my husband, nor look towards him ; if I did, I broke orders — we were faithfully watched. I am not writing to one who is a stranger to such cus- toms. After I m.oved to the North house, where you used to live, I found things very different from what I ever had seen, or was taught. The testimony to me had been, all peace and union, without one single jar. All faces wore a solemn cheerfulness when I saw them formerly ; but when I became one of the family, I found contention, sisters with brothers contending ; brothers with brothers, sisters with sisters. They said I might contend, but not as the world contende*!. Oh, the de- ceitfulness of this people. I believe if one half of our 49 leading men knew as much about the Shakers as I i^o, they would not be suffered to go on in their unfeeling, unnatural, deceitful way. Of all people they have the most deceit covered. I believe the Lord will search them out. You know their gathering gifts, and sifting gifts. O Lord, let their deceit be laid open to the world of understanding. Must parents and children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, be torn asunder ? I am almost overcome with grief, while I write. Please to excuse my writing ; my mind is so pressed with grief, which causeth it to be scattered. Mary, I am anxious to obtain my children in some way, but know not how to accomplish it. I am in hopes to see you when I come down in September. I subscribe myself your affection- ate friend, MARY GRAIN. Mrs. Mary M. Dyer. N. B. One thing I mention, hearing so much said about it, that is — John Lyon, in the presence of Robert Grain, Louisa Childs and m^'self, said, that what he said, was the same as though God Almighty spoke, «r Jesus Christ, his Son. John Lyon was then an Elder. Page 23, is Samuel Winkley's statement. He is son to Francis Winkley, a ruler at Canterbury So- ciety. If Samuel is a dupe, of course he will sign what his father requests of him ; and I find his fa- ther has been as officious in this last attempt, as any in the society. His very looks belie his professions. If Samuel hath common sense, he had better be hon- est, for he has got out of the reach of Ann Lee, or Job Bishop, to pardon his sins ! If the Shakers so far excel all other people in goodness, holiness, ten- derness and indulgence, as you have stated, why do you leave them, and live among " tho nasty, filthy world, anti-christians" — Shaker style. Page 33, Doct. Chadbourne, hath again shewn himself with the Shakers. As to what you deny, I can prove that Sarah Sewell stated to me, that you E 60 made that renark concerning her sickness. I do not doubt, but the sisters told a good story to clear themselves. As to her recovery, her health has been desperate ever since ; and though she has been wished dead, she still lives, and I think, in the mem- ory of some, in eternity. [See Esq. Gliddeti, and Mrs. StvidVs statement^ p. 29.] I think it very dan- gerousj for females in particular, if it changes their constitution as Sarah's was : i. e. Mores femincrum tciatis mutantis* I think something more than hon- or caused you to make your first statement, favoring the Shakers. Your proceedings were every way opposed by the General Court committee referred to, who gave their testimony agains«t you and others of the craft ;t and your statements on the subject shew to any able physician, fallacy or weakness. Page 35, is Thomas Ward's statement, denying the following statement of his son Andrew, who is since dead. I, Andrew Ward^ of lawful age, depose and say, I was son of Thomas Ward, when a lad my father joined the Shakers ; my mother did not believe in all their prin- ciples. Some of the Shakers were gathered into our family. My father and a Shaker woman, who was put in mistress, governed the family. My mother, when in a feeble state, would have her orders from this mis- tress, to do such and SDch work. She must obey or my father would be offended, and treat her cruelly — she was ever afraid of my father. They obliged her to stand at the wheel and spin, when so ill, she ought to have been in bed. What this woman said, we must obey as the word ©f God. I observed that my mother constantly shed tears. My father said he intended to overcome Batural affections — sometimes he said he had overcome them, which caused the following conduct, and similar. I had a younger brother, who, for a trifling offence, my « Portraiture, p. 349. f Portraiture, p. 383, 51 lather called to this mistress to hand him a string ; she handed him some linen thrumbs ; with these he tied the child's hands together around the wrists — by it hung him upon a tree, from the ground, and left him — he screamed a considerable time. I went to him — his hands were turned black — I gulled the limb down so that his feet could touch the ground — the limb split from the tree, and my brother ceased screaming. My lather came to know the cause ; began to reprimand my brother for breaking the limb, and my brother told him it was Andrew ; for which my tather tied me up in the same manner. I hung until the pain exceeded all I had ever experienced. I screeched according to my pain — my father took pitch, and stuck upon leather, and put it on my mouth, so 1 could make no noise. A man by the name of Brown took me down. 1 was tied up in different ways, and punished to that degree, I thought I could not live. Once I was tied and hmng up in this manner so long, I lost the natural feelings in my hands for three years. I had brothers and sisters treat- ed as cruel as I was, and by my father and this Shaker mistress. My sisters appear to have their natural ca- pacity much injured — I think by no other cause. I left the Shakers, and had brothers and sisters, who also left them. My sisters have suffered much for the want of a home ; as their capacity was not sufficient to be in an unprotected state. My ftither had a good interest when he joined the Shakers, but none of us have been favor- ed with any of it. My father, for many years, has been an elder with the Shakers. My mother lived a number of years after I left the Shakers ; and I think pined away through grief A short time before her death, she sent for me to come and see her ; 1 went — the Shakers would not let me gee her — 1 entreated of them, with tears in my eyes, tp let me go into her room — they would not. 1 stayed a number of hours, used every argument possible to see her, but in vain ; they peremptorily refused. I knew their cruelty, and my impressions were, that she was 52 in trouble, in addition to her sickness ; my heart was wounded in pity towards a tender mother — she was ever kind to her children, when it was in her power ; naturally kind hearted. My distress was great, but I must depart. My father has continued with the Sha- kers, and ever has treated me like a brute, until since the trial of Mary M. Dyer, in 1818. 1 called to see him, he treated me like a child. Since I left the Sha- kers, fortune has so favored me, that I have property sufficient to live upon the interest of my money, though my health is poor. ANDREW WARD. Attested before me, OBADIAH MOONEY, Ju3. Peace. A man cruel enough to treat his family as Ward did, is wicked enough to deny it, and bear down the name of the dead ; and his being a Shaker, he must of course. There are persons now who, at that time, lived so near Ward's house, as to get water from his well, eye and ear witnesses of the cruelty. Their being neighbors to the Shakers, I leave their names until a time of necessity. Sarah Meacham's statement, the Shakers can harp upon, as they please. She hath since moved to N. Y. state. Now you can form what you please and get her husband's consent — for he was before bribed by you to prevent her statement being attest- ed, as I understood by Esq. Fogg, when he returned, after he went to see her ; but her willingness to have it known, and her being a very smart woman, I Thought it duty to publish it. See the following. I, Jacob Sibley.^ of Hopkinton, N. H. do certify and say, that 1 lived a neighbor to Jonathan Basford's fam- ily, when he and his family joined the Shakers. Many families joined and moved into Basford's family. I was once in cwnpany with a number of the town of&cers 53 tliere, to get a child from them for its mother, who was in great distress about it. The Shakers resisted for a time, when one of the town officers seized the child, and took it from their hands. Another day in the morning, a very cold day in winter, I went there for blacksmith work. When I had been there about half an hour, I saw a boy coming from the barn, (1 should judge he was nine or ten years old) entirely naked — he ran fur the house — appeared in great agony ; his flesh appeared frozen in places, (he was put into the barn btfore I went there.) I asked the blacksmith why they treated him so ? He said, for his wickedness. Still he never named any thing of offence. I shew resent- ment — I expected to see him drove back again — I had made up my mind to fight for his protection ; but I saw him no more at that time. Afterwards he was at my house, when 1 spoke to him about it. The lad said he was treated worse at another time — He was gagged, then burned in the face with a coal in the tongs. From what I have frequently heard, they treat the children among them the most cruel and abominable that crea- tures could invent. This evidence is true. JACOB SIBLEY. Attest, Henry Murdough, Anna Sibley. 1, Mary Paige, of Weare, N. H. have been well ac- quainted with Jonathan Basford's family, before and af- ter they joined the Shakers, and I was very near joining them ; until, by their cruelty, I was convinced of their delusion. There was many gathered into Mr. Basford's family, where I went to meeting, and there saw a child laying in a sog, its flesh much bruised, and black and blue, and much swollen. 1 asked the reason — when the mother said, God told her to kill it, and bring it to life again, and she had done it. I then said, your god is the devil — then a number came towards me, said — shew, shew ! you devil ! shew, shew ! 1 also heard, that Jon- athan Basford whipped Sarah, his daughter, near to E2 54 death, to make her own that she had been unlawfully with another man. This 1 certify. MARY PAIGE, Attest, Tristram B. Paige, David Paige. Mary Paige is the widow of Samuel Paige, Esq. late of Weare. This Basford was Sarah Meacham's father; and this was the place and family where Sarah and oth- ers were treated as her statement describes. [S«c Portraiture, p. 1 29 ; also, Martha Slanley^s statement in this hook, page 25.] Page 42, is Nathaniel Smith's statement, favoring the Shakers — when it is proveable that he has confessed his fault to Mr, Beck's folks, for mak- ing a false statement against Mr. Beck, favoring the Shakers — which statement, was the evidence he speaks of, which gave satisfaction to the committee referred to, at Canterbury. The money spoken of, Avas for the purpose of purchasing the lot with the Shakers equally, as was the agreement between Mr. Beck and them ; and Mr. Beck was to purchase it ; but the;y neither waited for Mr. Beck to purchase, nor would they let him have his part, after it was purchased. But instead of his having 50 acres at five dollars per acre, as they agreed, they said, " you may have ten acres, if you will give twenty dollars an acre; and the Shakers still hold the land ; and to make their side appear fair, they, by some means, got this Smith to make a false oath^ to screen them. See the following. ^ I, Josiah Sargent, of lawful age, do testify and say, that I heard Alice Beck ask Nathaniel Smith how he could make a false statement to the Shakers, concerning a piece of land in dispute between them and her husband. 55 Said Smith replied, that he was wrong in what he said to the Shakers, (or before the cooimittee.) ^ JOSIAH SARGENT. Thomas Brown, Israel Davis. State of J^Teio- Hampshire, > Loudon, July 14, 1824. Merrimack, ss. S Peisonally ap[.earing, the above named Josiah Sargent, and made solemn oath to the above affidavit, by him subscribed. Before me, THOMAS BROWN, Jus Peace. There is in the Shaker book two statements more from persons (by the name of Clough) on the same subject, who were references at the time aKiove spoken of, the whole business was determined by Smith's statement at that time ; but it is no matter what the Shakers get to carry their point, whether a knave or a fool. Persons acquainted with Mr. Smith may judge for themselves what sort of a per- son he is ; still a man's evidence is good, until he is convicted of perjury. The Shakers will crawl in- to their holes, cover themselves with rotten wood, mulch or stones, to screen from the face of justice. But the day will come, when the heavens shall roll together like a scroll, and the earth shall melt with fervent heat, and the wicked shall call for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and cover them from the face of the Almighty ; they will find that false- hood and deception will vanish ; while innocent and injured persons, who have possessed their souls in patience, shall come forth standing on the sea of glass mingled with fire. I, Henry Beck, of Canterburv, of lawful age, do testi- ty and say, that I am son of A*ice Beck, who has given a statement, published in the Portraiture of Shakerisra, and a brother of Clement Beck, of Weare, N. H. My mother lives with me. My being a neighbor to the Shakers has caused me to be willing to bear wrongs rather than to en. Merrimack, ss. \ Juiyi4,i8Z4- Perscmaiiy appearing, the within named Henry Beck, and made sol- emn oath to the tnith of the withia affidavit by liim subscribed. Before me, THOMAS BROWN, Jm. Peut. 57 About five pages in the Shaker book are cover- ed with deception, endeavoring to disprove the cru- elty to John Oncal ami wife. Dr. Plaslridge was her physician, who attended her day and night. The thing was not d6ne in a corner, it was well known to the neighbors, as this family of Shakers lived a liule out from their village. Oncal, Stanley and Delano all gave their statement at one time, about the same cruelty, at Col. Delano's, in Leba- non, N. H., Feb. 24, 1819, before Jesse J. Fogg, justice peace, who is since dead. The Shakers make much handle about some ty- pographical errors, as the printer hath made a number, and mostly in figures, some where I have referred to other books. Their catching at such frivolous things, and making such ado about it, is a sure evidence of the general trmhof the thing. Was it not for making the work bulky, and the expense larger, 1 could produce evidence to shew their fal- lacy in every particular of their book. Still their breath is so strong, in their exprrssions of writing, that it is like the fluid of a distillery, which will fuddle those who are n-ot accustomed to it, though they partake of none of the liquor. Next, there is about iivc pages covered with a statement from my eldest son, Caleb Marshall Dy- er. I desire the God of Jacob to have mercy on him, and the rest of my children, who all have their names signed to statements in the Shaker book. Their statements appear to be signed in the same manner that a pers-o would be compelled to drink poison that would destroy them. Not long sinrej my daughter's name was to one similar, but they cannot compel her to sign any thing more. If my children are not all personally' destroyed, yet their abilities will be, if,:,th^ continue with Shakers. 58 Though my eldest son expresses that he has no feeling of tenderness towards me, still he is my child, he was a son of my youth, and the one who first drew the tender cords of a mother's love from my heart, which are stronger than the love of lifel' I have ever been willing to risk my life for the pro- tection of my children, and have been made willing to give my life, if it would relieve them from the Shakers ; but this would not do it. My children are all dear to me. As to my eldest son, he is made a sort of an leader among the Shakers, and, without doubt, his affections are fixed on some one, as this is the last cord they attempt to bind with ; of course, he must do something to bring honor to the church, or he will be put down — then he must lose his union in this attachment, which his ignorance thinks to be" an attachment in Christ, because the leaders have consented to it. Here the affections are given up to the greatest pitch, and the ignorant youth imagine themselves near to heaven, when, in truth, it is nothing but perishable, and will decay with that which perisheth. The old Shaker leaders must know- this, (which causeth some of them to be deists) still they hold their young subjects, and some weak minded men like my husband, in this way, which is the greatest weapon they have for many. If the subject is unwilling to comply with orders, the old leaders will threaten them, that they can break their union to God, and make them feel the judgments of hell — this is often done, and the youth loses his confidence jthe same affections, which were once justified, are now condemned, and the subject feels as though he was rejected of God^ and despised by the brethren — he is like a love- sick heart-broken creature. Many of both sexes are imposed on in this way, and have no opportu- 5d nity for knowledge of this deception, why it is, or what it is — thus go down toiutn. Let the mind of any youth be chopped up in this way, it will destroy the most capable faculties. The word is, " If you will do somethmg to bring honor to the church, the church will honor you, otherwise you must be dis- honored." By such means the Shakers' testimonies are generally produced — truth is not consulted. I here observe that though I do not give heed to dreams, particularly, still I name a circumstance which did assist my mind to bear with those new aggravations. Perhaps three nights before I saw this Shaker book, I dreamed that I saw my daugh- ter laying quietly dead. As I looked at her, I thought I saw Mary Stevens (a Shakeress) with a cup of new rum, and something more fiery, mixing with it. When stirred, she with my husband, pri- ed her teeth open, and poured it down her throat. My daughter moved. Still she appeared dead. As she stirred, I thought my husband attempted to croud out her eyes. 1 begged of them to let her alone. They continued, and she arose from the bed, and came towards me. They followed her with aggravations. She looked ghastly, and I thought she was dead — I plead with them to let her alone, and awoke with agitation, when it seemed as though by some means she was to be brought to view in an aggravated sense, which is certainly the case. I told my dream the next morning, and I think Mary Stevens and my husband are the cause. Mary Stevens was her nurse ; she prepared the cup of mixture, which my husband assisted in giving to Betsy, inflaming her mind against me, at the time she was sick ; then the attempt to put out the eyes of her understanding. Her coming towards me was 60 her confidence, gaining in me as her friend, which I will show in the sequel. In page 67, is a statement from Dr. Muzzey, which brings my sufferings up afresh. I saw the doctor but once to know him, and I should have thought the condition he found me in, and the con- versation which then passed, would have been suf- ficient to have taught him better than to have ag- gravated me with such an imposition. You must know for years I had been deprived of all oppor-» tunity to be acquainted with my children, and the Shakeis continually trying to set their minds against me ; and now when you saw me she was in a death like position, and I was willing to be in a retired room, where you saw me, rather than give any oc- casion for controversy, as it was what the Shakers sought for, by every possible means, because they said that when I was with her, I got her affections, which should not be done. I told you the circum- stances as they had occurred, and in the presence of the Shakers, so that it is impossible but you must know their cruelty and oppression. If you think my past sufferings for my children, and the then aggravated situation of my dear daughter was not sufficient to try a mother's feelings, 1 hope God will Riake you sensible by self-experience, in some way similar; I don't wish your children among Shakers, nor your wife to be your enemy; but 1 desire God to deal with you in some way un- til you have better feelings, than to be willing to aggravate the deepest wounds ; I note the following, and leave the reader to judge : I first heard of my daughter's sickness, by a son of Abel Hutchins, of Concord, N. H., when he rc^ turned from commencement at Dartmouth College, the 20th day of August, 1823. He said it was no? . J .u*^ u was then alive. I went immedi- expected that sj^^^.j^^^ I arrived in town it was ^i!^ ^ u k ^as dead. This was tht first informa- lliougnt snr^ j-^^j. ^,^^^g^ Q^j^. ^ fg^y months pre- tionIor|g^.j ^^^ ^,^g calculated by Shakers for a^., •J!'"^"^ness. I then told a number of persons that P^Sealth would be reduced to a skeleton — as I Sew it was the case with all young females who were selected Eldresses or Deaconesses. My heart is big with sorrows, and my fyesfull of tears, when I realize what I know of Shakers. Oh that God would deal with them according to their deserts, is my desire and prayer. Many an inoffensive female hath been made a prey of among them. Who but a God can know my feelings ! The Shakers cannot go unpunished, for their wickedness and lies. W hen I left the stage, I asked the inhabitants if they thought the Shakers would shut me up, if I went among them. The people said, " ifjj^iej^ shew you any misdemeanor, they shall be takeir^T: and your daughter's sickness is so well known tney dare not insult you ;" and further said, that people had said so much to them since her sickness, they had sent for me. I then said it was only to take away the reproach, or speech of people. I went with a female, where I found my daughter helpless, as pale as death ; she manifested gladness, and tri- ed to tell me how she was. I found she had bled at the lungs four days successively — whichwas abated by bleeding in the arm, and giving her sugar of lead which was ordered by Dr. Mussey. This bleeding at the lungs 1 consider was in consequence of an unnatu- ral change in the constitution or habits, as she had no cough, only at times a little hack. 1 asked my daughter if she was not started at my first comin«; — she said, "nay, I expected you." 1 told her I P 62 was glad she was so comfortai^ /• u . t V 1 T J- 1 * » . u ^ ; from what I heard, 1 did not expect to sen her d cu • j " I am elad you have come ; I alwa * . ' I « Af* *u- 1 "^ Knew you ^ was a good nurse." After this 1 saw l •' A*-^'>H.while in town. The female who wetvt ... asked if I should return with her. I said, 1 ; l ' stay and watch with Be»:sy to-night, and wish . of my friends to come after me in the mornu My daughter could not then lift her head from tht pillow. Soon as the woman was gone, my husband came in, urging me to leave the house. I. told him he had a bad spirit — I wished not to contend. I was then in such distress, it seemed as though I could not contain myself; my daughter looked like death, and ray husband sent in to scold me. He continued to urge me away; I asked htm what he meant, as they said the Shakers had sent for me to come and see Betsy. He said " that I might come and look at her, and go away, as other folks did." He urged me to go to the office. My feeftngs were much injured, and I dared not shed a tear in sight of my daughter. I said if I could lie down in this house, I should be glad to — he urged me out. My daughter said, "there is a bed in this chamber over head, which she might lay on as well as not." Ma- ry Stevens then consented. As I write, I am ready to meet my enemies at the day of judgment, and my absent daughter as a witness. After retirement I walked out ; when I returned, my husband, with three Shaker women, were in the room with Betsy. Soon as 1 entered, they began to contend about my going away. I asked them why they were so in- consistent ; they need not fear, I could not carry her away, if they were ever so willing, she was not nble to be moved ; and as to principles it was no time for that ; I wished for her health, and if there 63 was a blessing for her, I wished she might be bet- ter. I requested of them to keep a still spirit, as much as possible, and she might get belter. 1 took hold of her, and assisted her in turning; this of- fended. My husband said he could see the devil in me, trying to get her afi'ections ; he further said he would not leave the room until I did — that he was a going to watch. This was a -very warm day, and six in a small room, 1 thought Betsy could not get her breath among so many. Oh, I thought, what shall I do ? 1 arose from my chair and said, " I am sure the number in the room makes it diffi- cult for Betsy, she is so distressed at the lungs, I will go out if you will" — (this to my husband.) My daughter then spoke against my going out. When I took my seat beside her, my husband stay- ed in the room until nine o'clock, a-nd said no more that time, then left. Three women kept in the room with me until one o'clock, when I w ent to bed. The weakness of my daughter was such, she must be awaked OBce in 8 or 10 minutes; when 1 put my hand to her's she would squeeze mine with ten- derness — she rested quietly. In the morning, she said she had rested well. This morning 1 left, re- turned at evening with elder Chase — he desired to see my daughter, but was refused; he said, "I hope you will let her mother see her." 1 went to the house where my daughter was — they appeared very cross; my husband came in and said, "We did not expect you again so soon." I asked my daughter how she was— she appeared dejected, looked miserable. I told him he could not expect but 1 should wish to stay with her whatl could un- til some alteration. When I spoke to Mary Ste- vens, she would not answer, but looked surly. My feelings were so pressed I was faint. I went to the 64 outer dooc, for air — I attempted to return — the door was fastened against me — 1 heard stepping and Strange voices within — I went around to another door, where 1 entered — found my husband with some of the leaders persuading my daughter that -Hiy spirit was so against the Shakers, it was the cause of her sickness, and if they could not keep me away she would certainly die ; here they were pouring down their mixture. I told them I had natural alTeclions, and I wished to have, and they felt very tender now ; and I was sure that could not hurt her nor any other, and epecially when I had not seen her for so long time. They urged this on my child, and said the Governors had been there; were sensible of it, and spake of it. I asked them what Governors ? They said, Gov. Woodbury and Gov. Eustis. I then told them that Gov. Eustis said at the tavern below, that Betsy could not live if she was not moved from there ; and that he told True Heath,* a deacon, the same thing, and urged it on him. They utterly denied it. My husband afterwards said, Heath would take his oath that the Governor never said a word to him about it. You will see, in the sequel, the statement which the Gov- ernor made concerning it ; I saw and talked with him myself. 1 mourned with distress, but slill kept my tears. I asked him what he thought my feel- ings were to keep me so long from my children, and now to see the condition of my daughter, and you *trying to irritate her feelings, thus to press me from her. I was conducted into a room with a glimmer- ing lamp — you could only discern that there were people. Here were my sons ; 1 found their minds had been irritated in the same manner — from what * This Heath was all the one of the naoie that belonged to the Socie- ty in that place. 65 I discovered from looks and actions, I should as soon thought they had been other people's children as mine. The scene through so preyed on my health, that I was miserable. My husband said, if he had thought Betsy would have lived until I could have got there, they would not have sent for me ! and intimated to her and the other children, as though 1 would willingly do something to end her days, if I could not get her from the Shakers any other way.* When in truth they were afraid I * Friendly reader, you may think there was some uncommon cause for this conduct, and that they would not have treated any other so cruel, but they certainly do. I iiad personal knowledge of tlieir treating a mother equally as cruel when I lived wi.h them, as you may read. A family moved freni the countiyof my acquaintance. The woman was not so strong a Shaker as her husband. After a time, her youngest child was sick, when a number of days had past, the old Eldress came into my room, lookiwg very grave, with a (kawn down face, she said, " Mary, I have something to say to you ; Daniel's folks have got a very sick child, they want you should go up and see it, and advise them about it ; they sent before for ys.u to corae up, but we thougiit Benja- min had better go, he could doctor it so as to answer, but they have sent again, and perhaps you had better go, if you feel to." Ye=,be sure, and I would have gone before if 1 had known it, wliy did not you tell me ? Oh, we thought it want best, but you may go in — Nelly is going; with you, ^she was for a watcli, to see and hear what was said.) When 1 went in, (as I was in a shop,) Mr. Aldrich said, " Daniel's folks are very anxious to have you come — said they knew you so well, that they were sure you wuuld come and see them, if yuu knew the child was sick, and that they wished you to come." I said, I had not heard of it before. He then said, " Daniel told me not tu leave the place \mtil I saw you myself." The Shakers looked beat. Nelly and I fitted off. When we got there, (which was three and a half miles) the child v/as dead and laid out. I told them how it was — Daniel said nothing hid sliaken his faith like this. He said, if I had con.e when they first sent for me, he thought the child would have been better. It appear- ed to have had a hM cold, and 1 think was choked wit!) worms, from what they said. When we returned, and told the circumstance, this sanctimonious hypocrite, (Eldress) said, " Well, it is no loss, the child hindered it* mother more than it would ever be profit." The child was two years old, yet it needed some care. The next day the child was brought to this house for the funcial — When tliis old Eldress said, "1 wish to have the funeral conducted as people of the world do theirs," and asked me the custom. I told her, and as far as she liked, it was con- ducted so, but there was little similarity. Just before we went into the room, where the corpse was this eldress came to me and said, " Mary, F 2 66 should become acquainted with her and hep conii plaint. 1 told my husband the Shakers could not be blessed in such cruelty towards me. Oh, 1 thought, how can I endure ! 1 retired early. Was I as lull of falsehood and wickedness as the Shakers pretend, I should certainly destroy some of them : as to my life, I should not value it a straw, to see my children in such a condition. It is only the fear of offending Omnipotence, that makes me endure those awful I don't know but you may think strange, but we are going to take this opportunity (o Jeal witli Lucy, (the mother of the child) we think now is a good lime — her mind i« tender, and may be easily subdued," (be broken, she might have said.) I pitied the mother, but said not a word, They had Lucy up stairs dealing with her a lime — then we all went in- to the room where the corpse was — when Lucy was set back into the world's place, (as they call it) to humble her. They stood in ranks and sung; then the Elder said something about their being in obedience 10 God in the leaders — but no prayers. 1 never heard a prayer from one of them while I lived there, nor never heard of a vocal prayer among them — but ihey must think of Mother and the Elders. Alter those few words from tlie Elder, the cofiin was opened, when the Elders first looked in — the mother must stand beiiind in derision, and was the last who canie to see the corpse. The grave was near to the house. When they went to the grave, she went behind, bore her burden alone — inhuman ! Tliey appeared to aggravate her feelings as much as pos- sible — I pitied the woman, but must not say a word to her — I thought what would be the case if one of my children should die. I was now promoted next to the Elders, and was all the time I was there, until after I made it manifest that I meant to leave them. I nev- er left the Shakers because they did not applaud me; for thoy did ; and I thought were much pleased with me,— but I left them because their principles were not honest — and they lived in an adulterous spirit, and cruelised all whom they pleased, whether innocent or guilty — to break their spirits down, and submit them, to any obedience. And now when my daughter was sick, they thought it a good time to break my spirits, and make me believe, my spirit against them was the cause of her sick- ness, and w.ould be her death. This, to make me deny the One God, and belfeve on them. Hut God is light, and in him is no darkness nor variableness of changing, which hath ever helped me to see their fal- lacy — and it is He alone, who knows what contradictions I have endur- ed by Shakers. May He ever protect me in ray sincere desire. — I was never at another funeral while with them — they do not manage all alike; such as are ordered to attend, do ; others pay no attention. There has been a custom among them, for the man to bury his own wife — to put the dirt on, to shew hjs dislike to natural affections ; and for old travel- lers among them. The parents must take no notice, when their child- ren are buried—nor children of their parents. For a person to cross 6t aggravations in patience ; common murder is not more cruel. Still, I never attempted to injure them in the least thing, no further than to expose them in the truth ; and this I did in mercy to leaders and people, m hopes of reformation, and consider it no injury. But they never will cease in their abuse* until they are compelled to, although I, am by theip means accused of all manner of evil : still 1 defy them or any other, to produce a person who knows me guilty of any immorality. As to my inveterate spirit, as they term it, i think 1 have had enough to try me ; and it is not my ^ ar of them or any other person, or of death, that has prevented me Irom re. venge, if that had been my oijccf. They even pre- tend that I would set iire to them ; (1 suppose they mean their buildings.) This 1 could do with all ease if 1 wished ; but this would not remove the cause of my complaint. I have sometimes thought I would give up my life in defence of my children. Scripture says, " No greater love can any man have, than to give up his liie for his friend." As to life here, it is nothing, to be imposed on as I am. If I once disbelieved in a God of rewards and punish- their natural affections, as the Shakers do, makes them worse than the brute ; and I think the meanest reptile might teach the Shakers wis. (lorn. Almighty God, make thy power known, and awfully shake their rotten foundation. At another time, when I lived with the Shakers, my Eldtrs requested me to go tooneof tlieir new faeiilies, and assist in lay- ing out % child which they said, had been somJ hours dying. When I got there, I found life was in it, tliough you coKld not perceive it breathe. I asked them lome questions about it, when a t'lought struck me that it might he brougliv to. I sent all out of tie j-oom but its parents, then I applied some liqui(t nutriment to its moith, the father thought it pre- sumptuous — I told him it could do no Itirt, if it did no good. I drop- ped a drop or two into its mouth, unti some lan down its throat ; a second time the child stirred — it re>'ived, and afterwards got well. Now when Betsy was sick, (after th^ had talked so hard to me) five of them were taken down with a fever, the Shakers wished me to go in and see them— and I don't doub would have been glad to have had ipy advice— (but my own child J should kill.) I refused going in, Render, what do you think of sucl things .> 68 ments, the Shakers would not dare to treat me as they do : whatever I teel to be right, I shall certain- ly do; and I feci at times as though I had endured nearly enough. To think we should have a law ior a woman to be subjected to a husband, and by this subjection must have a family of children, then, by the same law, have her children taken from her and placed where they are taught to treat her with barbarity, and thatshe is a monster in the world, is too much to be borne with. It would be better that there never was a woman, or that the men should never have one, unless they will make a law for their protection, with their children. After my early retirement, the next morning I found my daughter very ill; she lay in a sog with her eyes fast closed the most of the day — she looked like death. My husband was in, placed himself at the foreside of the bed as a defiance to me. 1 sat at the other part of the room — said nothing until about eleven, when 1 said, we shall not have her long. His feelings seemed a little moved, when he spake to one of the sisters to take his place, and left the rot)m. Just before night, I seated myself at fhe foot of the bed where I could look in her face; 1 raised my desires to God in her behalf, that he would drive back this power of death, which then was preying upon her. She soon opened her eyes, and saw and spake to me, whon 1 gave her some inforn^alion about our relations in the country, which was the first information she had had from them since she "was eleven years old; she was now twenty-one — '■ she appeared satisfied in hearing from them. She was never again in suc'i a death-like posture while I continued in the neighborhood, which was five weeks. I returned to my boarding place that night, which was a mile and a half — returned the next 69 morning, when all looked with sourness ; my davjgh- ter appeared afraid of me — was very ill ; i suppose she had had another lecturing about me. I soon told them, if 1 could assist or advise in any thing for her comfort I was willing; otherwise, 1 would retire to the chamber, as I wished to be near her until some alteration. They refused all assistance, and were not even willing that I should brush the flics from off her. I withdrew to my chamber, where in m}' feelings, I buried my daughter : she looked as though every hour would be her last. 1 kneeled and desired the eternal power to assist me, and have mercy on the soul of my poor distressed child. The scene was so aggravating that I felt the need of divine assistance to bear my spirits up. In the afternoon. Doctor Mussey was escorted in- to \he chamber by my husband, when 1 was intro- duced to him ; other Shakers stood in the spaceway ihrougii the door. I was glad to see the Doctor — was thai.kful he had some charge of my daughter. I soon learned, from an observation my husband made, that they had been trying to sour the mind of the Doctor against me ; I then told him the par- ticulars as I have above named, which must have shewn to the Doctor why my daughter made such an observation, which 1 do not doubt she did, if she Relieved any thing which her father or the Elders said. (This caused her to be afraid of me — when previously the Shakers said, 1 had the best under- standing of sickness of any among them, and inti- mated abroad (as I have since learned) that I had the healing power, which was in consequence of my being favored in nursing; but now I was of the world.) My husband said in an aggravating way, that \ said I knew what ailed my daughter and what would cure her, as though I knew more than the 70 iDoctor; but that was not the case. It was this: — When Betsy told me how she was, I told her I un- derstood her case well ; 1 had been similar myself, while I was with the Shakers, and it is a wonder I am alive. I did not bleed at the lungs as she did ; the reason was, my blood was very low, but hers was full. 1 had bled some at the lungs, and was other- wise affected as she was, and the same that helped me, 1 thought would her. One of the Shaker women said then, ' Betsy and her mother are very much alike every way.' Had not my daughter been intended for the Dea- con's Office, she might have been well now. That Office, a den of abominations, your union and rela- tions produced by what you call "first mother's spirit," you old Shakers must know it is the essence of adultery ; but your ignorant children and youth what can they know, only as you teach thom ? How can I enduie this imposition on my family ! (I desire the Lord to teach them by his wisdom in the stillness of their minds.) If you old 5^i)akers are pleased to call this fire or flame the fire of the Hoi}' Ghost, how shall they know the difference? While the delicate constitution is soon devoured, I desire Jehovah to interfere in behalf of the innocent — to display that light which shall discover all false re- ligion. I conversed with the Doctor perhaps half an hour, when my husband, to shew his kindness to me, of- fered in a gift, Marshall my son, to go with me to my boarding place, and that he should carry and fetch me at any time. Oh, this intriguing deception to make a fair appearance, when previously he had been as cruel as possible ! I did not refuse the of- fer, thouih I could see it was to blind the eyes of strangei;s. Ti.^s was the last opportunity I had 71 with my son; they had got the good name, an*, 78 falls by means un$een. I am willing to meet all my adversaries at that day, when all are brought before a righteous tribunal, I return to my journey. — After being in Lynn some weeks, I was invited to a Quaker family, near Harvard and Shirley Shakers. I thought it duty to scatter my books as much as possible, for infor- mation. I went by stage through Boston, Chailes- town, Cambridge, and other towns, to Marlborough, Stow, Bolton, Shirley and Harvard. When in Har- vard town, I heard that my daughter was dead ; it shocked me very much, as I had not heard any thing from her, and so far expected her that I purchased a number of articles of clothing for her. The news so shocked me as to take away my strength : my disappointment was such, I felt unable to attend to my business. After selling a few books, I returned to Marlborough, where 1 stayed a few weeks and §old 'ibout seventy dollars worth of books. I re- turned to Brighton, where I sold — and in Medford and Cambridge, many more. From thence 1 went to Roxbury, where 1 called on Governor Eustis ; a lady from town went with me. I first sent a line to him, when he sent for me in ; when he said, " Is this Mrs. Dyer ?" . I answered it is ; he said, " I am glad lo see you ; bow does your daughter do?" I told him she was dead ; he then related to me the following circumstances, and requested Mrs. Hawes to give me a statement of the same, which I here insert. Roxhury^ Massachusetts, This may certify, that this 12th day of March, 1824, 1 went in company with Mrs, Mary M. Dyer to the house of Governor Eustis, of this State, who related to her in presence of the Attorney-General and myself, the follow- ing circumstance respecting her daughter (Betsy Dyer) •yd wbom he Sttw with the Shakers at Enfield, N. H., when on his journey to Hanover, to Commencement. That he attended their worship ©n Sabbath in August last, and without any information, his attention was drawn to this daughter — that he requested to know who she was, and wished to see her, and that she came in with an old lady. Then he spake with emphasis : " Never did I behold a more interesting countenance on a female than hers" — said he conversed some with her ; found her health bad. He left and wftnt to Hanover. Shortly after. Heathy a Shtker^ came to Hanover to fetch some articles to him of their manufacture which he had previously purchas- ed : then said he, " I asked after this young woman ; Heath said she was worse, and that he had come for Doctor Muzzey. I told him if he should get all the physicians in the country, she will be no better, unless she be taken out of that family : then said he made ma- ny proposals for this purpose, but to no effect. Heath insisted she must be there ; then he with resolution ob- served, ' What, not to save life, won't you let her go ? not to save life!' Heath then hesitated and said, ' we will thinkof it, but there are many difficulties which at- tend it." Mrs. Dyer said, " No wonder he was not wil- ling to let her go, she was calculated for his spiritual companion." The Attorney-General spoke and said, ♦' what is this you say ?" Mrs. Dyer observed ; " every leading man in the Society hath a spiritual companion." He said, " I ever considered them a deluded, but inno- cent people." The Governor then said, " there are no greater villains (in my opinion) on earth, than these head Shakers." He said his feelings were such, that he talked with Governor Woodbury on the subject, and also said " there ought to be a law of protection." He also requested me to give Mrs. Dyer this statement. MARY HAWES. I learnt that Governor Eustis v^as a regular bred physician, and Governor Brooks* also, whom 1 cal- * H« purchased a boek, as did the odicr. 80 kd to see, with one of his acquaintance. These two men fef'l tor the liherLy of iheir countrymen, women, and children. My time wa^ every where spent more agreeably than I expected. In Cam- bridge, a merchrint lady (Mrs. Fanewell) uinde me a present of a mourning Bonnet; in Lynn, Capt. Bachelder's wile, a pair of mouining Beaver Gloves ; at Boston, Mrs. Sutherhn took a ring from her fin- ger, placed it on mine, said that was friendship. Bos- ton was the last place of my selling books: 1 had but a few with me. I went in town Ssiiuraay, left Tuesday for Cfoncord, N. H. When 1 went to Bol- ton, I stayed a few days in Boston — left some books at the Book-stores. Now and then, I found ac- quaintance, with a number of very respectable peo- ple — Mrs. Willis and family, Dr. Baldwin and fami- ly, where I visited. Elder Lindsey^ Elder Hedden, and wives, whi re I had an invitation to visit, which would have been very pleasant, but I was otherwise engaged ; I had a pleasant visit at Mrs. Boidens. 1 was made acquainted with Dr. JaFvis, and a num- ber of ladies of respectability. Instead of finding people with a haughty aspect, they were every way pleasant, humane, and of tender feelings. I was de- lighted with their affability; I often thought, this is the perfection of good manners. I was sure, though I was country born, I should be happy in such so- ciety as this. Those who are independent in Bos- ton, are not seeking to attain some popular standing or dignity, like some w.io have not attained — afraid to speak or stir, lest they shall lose some of their preferment. Those have already attained, and.it appears to be their delight to treat people with po» liteness. When 1 found the time of my daughter's death, I thought by the condition 1 was brought to at that 81 lime, i had sympathy with her in her distress. Some may think strange at this remark; but the Apostle Paul said, " though absent in body, yet present in spirit." 1 relate as follows : — from some time in December I was much worried about her ; if I had any retirement, she was present in my mind more than any of the family ever was. This I often men- tioned to the friends wherever I kept. The week she died my rest left me ; 1 felt unfit to see compa- ny : but I was now at Lynn with my old acquaint- ance, and for many days we' met for religious visits. The day of her death, many were invited to Sylva- nus Newel's ; my feelings were such 1 thought I could not attend, yet there appeared no proper ex- cuse. I went, and at dusk 1 went out — was distres- sed in my feelings about my tamiiy. There were as many as thirty people in the room when I came in ; I began to speak my feelings. 1 was affected with a tremor, so that I felt almost helpless, (as I did afterwards, when I heard of her death.) 1 kneeled, prayed for myself, for those present, for my family, and 'for my poor daug;hter: and I recollect uttering these words : " O Father, thou knowest our condi- tion, and that I cannot be with her nor help her; but thou, O God, art every where present : wilt thou have mercy, and reach thy hand down and take her." (ihe hand of his powor.) I was so dis- tressed it was manifest foall in thf room, and I thirik the}' had sympathy with me. This was about six o'clock, which I afterwirds learnt was her dying hour. Had I been with her I could not have felt more ; but I should have had an opportunity of tel- ling them the cause of her death ; which, if it was my Isst ^nd dying words, I believe it was by unfair means pro'luced by those leaders, which they must know ; and when those subjects get their death 82 wound, by their Mother's fiery gospel, ihcy will sometimes send out for a physician ; and when they come, it is dilficult knowing the cause of their com- plaint. The reason is, they cannot imagine, as things arc. It" they knew your gifts for the fire of your Holy Ghost, and gifts for Mother's love, then for your gospel union and relation — if they under- stood this, they could understand that those youth could not exist, with Betty Andrcss Draper, and True Heath in the Office. They are so immersed into that power that brought death into the world, that their very spirit preys on the delicate conslitu- tion, by being constantly with them, if they are not guilty of such wicked acts. I should think reason would teach them, that such a fire as you possess, is that which is unquenchable. Won't you have mercy on yourselves, nor your subjects ? No ! not so long as you are governed by your desires. If those old monsters knew half of their subjects Avould die similar, they would not cease in their (1 don't know what to call it) for they could come to the world, and supply their stock, as they say. There are many among them who live years in a sort of dying state, like a dim taper; whose con- stitutions have been previously destroyed by their Mother's Gospel. And those selected ones will no more cease in this wickedness, than fire will cease consuming fuel, unless Omnipotence should interfere by some means of protection. The old Shakers can understand what 1 mean, but 1 do not know as other people can. 1 leave it after observing, that to doctor one of those sick, and they continue with the Shakers, is like throwing water on a person who stands scorching by a fire; if you would stop the disease, 3'ou m.ust take them from the Shakers, or remove tiie first cause. 83 After I heard of my daughter's death, I delayed my journey. I went to Enfield in April, where I ifiquircd ot the neighbors about Betsy. They said they understood she grew worse soon after 1 left town in the fall ; and that the Shaker women said she was very anxious to live, and for four weeks before her death, they did not expect her life from one day to another. After her death, my husband came into the neighborhood, and said, some of the young sisters shod tears when they heard she was dead, but he did not, they had not travelled so far as he had. It seems he had travelled farther than Jesus; Vv^hen he was at the grave of Lazarus, he wept. But now the travel is, to overcome natural affections, hardened in tyranny. 1 went to the Sha- kers with Elder Chase and wife ; my eldest son soon came in, he spoke of Betsy's reconciliation to death — I thought of what I heard by the neighbors. I asked if she had her senses when she died, he said she had. I asked if he saw her when she died, he said, " Nay, I was at supper, but heard by the sisters." 1 asked the hour of her death, he said, " about six in the evening." 1 could not l^arn that one of the family was with her. Oh. if I could but have rested her dying head ! ! but no — I desire the spirit of Omnipotence to bear my spirit up. If she was so happy, why was not the family with her ? The nurses of course must tell a good story, to con- tent the rest of the children and their infatuated father. I carried each of my sons an orange, which I suppose was the first my three youngest ever saw — I offered to the youngest son first, he reached his hand towards it, then drew it back. 1 then said, 1 did not know as you would dare take it for fear of being pestered. My eldest son said, " Nay, B4 we are not so afraid of being pestered as you ihinlc for, take it." He then took it. As 1 before observ- ed, my eldest son is a sort of an overseer, or waiter to the higher deacons, when he consented, it would do. This I tell, to see the strictness of the orders. The Shakers brought forth my husband's name in public to vindicate their cause, until his bitter- ness hath been a disgrace to them. Now my chil- dren's names are made use of. My youngest child was but three years old, the next five, when the Shakers stole them from me, when I knew nothing of it, nor expected it, no more than I did their death, and I knew not where they were for weeks. Next my daughter was taktn in the same way. Now they are duped or compelled to sign a writing against me. The Shakers had rather every child of mine would die in an hour, than to leave this de- ception — indeed, they would be glad never to have one leave the Society, if they would die as soon as they become useless or unprofitable ; but when they don't, they sometimes drive them off. My second son boasts of his stature. Watts meas- ures a man by his mind. However, my children were of good natural abilities ; but their talents will be metamorphosed and spoiled if they stay with Shakers. Some people blame me for ever consent- ing to go to the Shakers with my husband. Ignor- ance was my w eakness ; had people been faithful in circulating knowledge, the Shakers would never have got me there alive ; for this cause I have en- deavored to be faithful. J asked Elder Stone, a baptist, why his connections had not published those facts about Shakers, that people might know, as they were well acquainted with Shakerism, and had suffered much by them ? He said, " People were afraid to publish, the Shakers' enmity was so 85 violent."' I told him we had as good die oiic vray as another; and I could not rest to have peopL^ ex- posed to such afflictions and not make it known; if they killed me, I could not die but once. The following is a short sketch, but correct : — 1st, I never had seen a Shaker, to my knowledge, until the time my husband joined them. 2nd, 1 never consented to unite witli him in their ceremonies, un- til my husband said, if I did not he would carry my children to the Shnkers, but if I would, I should have the care of them. 3d, I never should have consented to have removed in with them, had not my husband first placed some of the children there by deception, by which means they stole the rest. After they got all of them, I was brought to distrac- tion, at times. My husband then said I should go and have the care of them. I went, but never had the care of them; but lived in hopes nine months. There has no promise been fulfilled, since my hus- band joined the Shakers, for my safet}'-. I asked liim what he had done with his promises; he said, "I made them in the carnal mind ; when I came here the gift of God could not comply with it." It is now my sincere desire, that he might see the Shakers' deception, understand their obscenity, and save his soul. But if he hath an understanding, and makes it his choice to worship Lucy Lyon, 1 am perfectly willing he should ; only I do not like for him to de- stroy the children by holding them there ; or other- wise, he must be parted from his Lucy. The word is, " you must give all in your power, or be reject- ed." It would be a mercy to any man, if he joins the Shakers, not to have power over his family ; then if he was pleased to stay or leave, his children are protected. H 86 In the Shaker Book, are nine pages covered, trV" ing to disprove that Ann Lee was ever at Concord, N. H. The same testimonies are published in the N. H. Patriu**, June 1823 ; when I made the follow- ing reply :— TO THE PUBLIC. By the advice of some of the members of the Legislature, and a request from the inhabitants of Concord, and to do justice to my own feehngh, I publish the iollowing. — In the N.H. Patriot of June 30, 1823, is brought to view statements from the Shaker Society, endeavoring to prove that Ann Lee and William Lee her brother, were never in New- Hampshire. It appears th.' no one instance haih been such an absolute witness lo the people cK* Con- cord, that the Shakers intetu' (o cover truth with error, as this circumstance. 1 here present affida- vits, as sppcimens, from as respectable people for truth and veracity as any in tc'n. There are more similar, who are ready to attest the same. You will find in the Shaker Bible, first publication, page 30, they have stated, that the Shakers werp, after tht-y came to America, three years scntterod fora living; which, if they settled at Waterviiet in 1776. as you have stated in this Shaker Book, (called a re- view) she must have come to Amciica in 1773 ; but according to the statement of Fartium and others, they were in Concord in 1773 or 1774: and they further say, that they were here in the fall of the year. And one of those who have asserted in the Patriot or Review, says she did not come from England until the next year after Ann ; but that is of no consequence whether she ever saw her or not; the very principle of the Shakers, is to testify favoring their Church or Gospel, (as they call it.) 87 Why don't the Shakers bring some other witness besides their own society, to prove that Ann Lee was in New -York the time after she came over, un- til she went to Watervliet. Mary Partington does not say, that Ann Lee and VVilham Lee were not in Concord, N. H., but says — '• It looks very unlikely that Mother and Elder William, should ever go to New-Hampshire at any time; and 1 never heard of it till this time." She says she was with ihe Mother continually. Why does she not tell the particulars, as well before they went to Watervleit as after- wards ? They must be someTvhere, and such sort of people never went unnoticed. 1 think this vei*y woman was at Concord with Ann Lee. Let people read the following statements of Far- num and others : We, the undersigners, do testify, that between 47 and 49 years ago, a number of people, four or five stran- gers, and outlandish, came to Concord, New-Hampshire — made tarry of a number of months — the names of those who appeared to be the head ones, were Ann Lee and William Lee — their singularity caused many peo- ple to call and see them. Ann was short, thick set — she wore a strap cap, and a large fiat straw hat. William Lee was stout built, of a sandy complexion. They prov- ed themselves a people of the most vulgar sort — they lived near us — we often saw them — was acquainted with much of their conduct. They pretended in telling fortunes — also, where stolen or lost goods were. They used ardent spirits to excess — they freq-uented Samuel Farnum's house, a near neighbor, and at times stayed all night — the family anited with them in drinking, and the report from the lamily was, that Ann Lee lodged with Faraum, aud William Lee with Farnum's wife. Their conduct left with Farnum and wife a dirty com- j)laint. Froni many circumstances, it is an undeniable fact, that those strangers were afflicted, and doctored 88 while here, for the v 1 disease. Those foreig-ners appeared destitute of furniture — their lodging was boards nailed together for a large stead, on which lay straw, with their wearing clothes, this was said to be the lodging for all of them. They practised singing, danc- ing, gambling with cards, gaming and lounging about. Ann told Samuel Farnum he had a pot of money hid un- der earth, if he would give her and William each a suit of good clothes, she would tell where the money was. Farnum believed it, and got the clothes for them. Ann then pretended to tell where the money was — Farnum, with others, went to digging for the money, but found none. Ann found the inhabitants aroused against them — borrowed some outside gar- ments, pretending to go to a neighbor's — and that night fled. They were followed towards the State of New- York, in hopes of recompense, but got none. STEPHEN FARNUM. I, Marther Farnum, wife to the above, testify, that the above named persons were here, and that the fore- going is a true statement of their character. MARTHER FARNUM. Also, HENRY MARTIN. JOSEPH FARNUM, ESTHER MARTIN, RUTH FARNUM. '^'"pi'T."?»?;^r^'''"''' I Concord, Dec. 10, 1821. Rockingham, ss. 5 Attested before me, ISAAC DOW, Jus. Peace. I hereby certify, ibat the above named persons are people of respec- tability and truth. ISAAC DOW. 1, Samuel Farrington^ of Hopkinton, N. H., do state, that I was formerly a resident of Concord, N. H. ; when a young man I s.tw in that place a number of people who were outlandish. They came there in 1774, in the early part of the fall. I lived in the street when they came to our house to tell fortunes — there were two men and two women, who proved to be dissolute characters. The conductors were Ann and Wm. Lee, who she said was her brother. They w( »t to West- Parish, in Concord, where they made a tarry of some 89 months. Soon after they were established there, Ann left town, when it was said she went to the sea ports. She returned the same fall, walking with a pack on her back. It was a day of general muster when she came in this manner to town — the report was, that she had been among sailoi-a — her appearance attracted the at- tention of the people — When the men gathered around her, she was very talkative and flippant Among them. She was a stout thick set woman. (We were often called together for trainings, expecting a war with the British, who were frequently sending in ships loaded with soldiers and war accoutrements — we were under the command of Col. Walker.) After the return of Ann, the attention of the people was drawn to the West-Parish, to those strangers. The report was, they practised singing, fiddling, dancing and whirling, telling fortunes, playing cards, drunkenness, with other conduct too bad to write. Ann professed to have knowledge of past, present and future events. She seemed to en- chant some of the people. A number of people suffer- ed loss by her. But the more particular wore, Samuel Farnum, Zephaniah Pattee, and Pompey, a black man, belonging to Esq. Bradley, of Concord ; said Bradley was a relation and neighbor of mine. She made Far- num and Pattee believe they- had hid treasures, which she could assist them to find, if they would first supply her request, and without she could not. By this in- trigue, she caused those men such expense, as to com- pel them both to sell their farms in consequence of poverty. They searched for hid treasures, but found none. Pompey had three hundred dollars loaned to Mr. Dimond, which he called in, and gave to her, when in return she gave him such a complaint that he rotted aUve, as his master told me. It was said, she brought this from the sailors, when she returned from the ship- pingi, for which she was doctored in Concord, Their conduct was such, the inhabitants were enraged against them. Those took borrowed garments and other things, and absconded at night — this was in March. Pattee was H2 90 dissatisfied, and followed them, as he said, to North river, where it crossed at Albany, New-York, in hopes of recompense, but got none. I afterwards made inqui> ry about those foreigners, when I heard they settled a few miles from Albany. Further saith not. SAMUEL FARRINGTON. Merrimack, ss. Hopkmton, •^'ug. % 1824. Solemnlv attested htiots me, NATHANIEL KNOWLTON, Jus. Peace. I, Miriam Farrington. wife of the above named Sam- uel FarringtoQ, do state, that the above written testi- mony is true. MiRIAM FARRINGTON. The above named Samuel Farrington, and his wife Miriam, are worthy members of the Congregational church, in Uopkinton, N. H. Compare those characters with Ann and her dis- ciples, after they preached Shakerism. See the 4estim©nies in the preceding pages. Let others trust what names they please, Their Saints and Angels boast, I have no such advocates as these, Nor pray to the heavenly hosts. Jesus alone, shall bear my cries, Up to his Father's throne, He, dearest Lord, perfumes my sighs ▲lid sweetens every groan. MARY M. DYER. Truth bruises the head of the Serpent when appli- ed i he cannot devour, though he bruises the heel. The following statements are published in conse- quence of a Shaker book, published, (called Dyer's Narrative) which the Shakers drew up, and caused my husband to sign his name to, in a gift. He has since owned to me that he did not write it, neither did he consider it truth, and asked me to forgive him in what he had done. 91 We, the undersigned, testify and say, that we were neighbors to Joseph and Mary Dyer, during their resi- dence in Stewarlstown, N. H. They were two of the first five persons, baptized in the reformation in 1809 ; were united with us in Christian fellowship, under the administration of Elder Benjamin Putnam, a worthy brother and faithful laborer while with us, which was but a short time. Joseph and Mary walked worthy of the vocation, wherewith they were called, and in real har- mony together, until the circumstance of the introduc- tion of the Shaker doctrine, which was as follows: — We consider Mr. Dyer the first cause of the Shakers* doctrine being introduced in this place. For years, he was anxious to have the professors put their property in one joint interest After Mr. Crooker (a minister)came here, he united with Mr. Dyer in this scheme. At a time we furnished him with proper means to move his family here, he went to the Shakers in Lebanon, N. Y. (as he afterwards stated) made enquiry how to lay a found- ation for a church in this way. When the Shakii's in- duced him to believe they were right in every sense. Instead of fetching his family, he bought some Shaker books and a writing from them, encouraging others to go to them ; said he had joined them, and that they had got a church established in gospel order, therefore it would be unnecessary to attempt to establish again. We were much disappointed and could not fellowship his doctrine — we had highly esteemed him. He had been but a short time in the place, and came as a stranger, but was much favored as a preacher. He baptised up- wards of thirty persons while here ; and the only of- fence he gave while among us, was his joining the Shak- ers. This brought a grief on us which was enlarged by the said Dyer's uniting with him in those principles.. Shortly after, Mr. Crooker left the place, and since has not returned. After a few months we received a letter from him in New- York, stating, that he had lived with the Shakers until he found them deceivers, and that he found himself in Babylon's darkness^ and under the bond- 92 age of Egypt. Antl that the Lord bad again delivered him, for which he was thankful ; then desired us to over- look his misstep in going to the Shakers ; also, that he was again living with his family. — We have seen Dyer's Narrative, which appears to he written with an intent to injure the innocent. We consider it without founda- tion. From a constant acquaintance with the family, we know much of it is false, and believe it all libellous. We never heard the leasi intimation of any kind against Mrs. Dyer's character, while she lived in this country. She WaS from" a respectable family ; we ever considered her a virtuous neighbor, faithful wife, and tender moth- er. She never journeyed with any minister, only her own husband. Mr. Dyer ever appeared to respect her, and after he became Religious it was considered, that they lived in as great union nnd harmony as ever per- sons did, until he joined the Shakers, which we think, caused her great trouble. We have, since Mr. Dyer moved his family to the Shakers, heard him say ''Mary was very pious." We consider her worthy to be com- mended into any family or christian society. Elder Putnam is a man with whom we have had some ac- quaintance and information; his character is irreproach- able. John James, Elizabeth James, Rebekah Morrison, Rebekah Dennet, Hannah Weeks, Abagail Weeks, Ma- ry Morril. Canaan, Essex, ss. May Sth, 1819 Sworn before me, Moses Morril, Justice Peace. I the subscriber, do testify that the above declaration is true. MOSES MORKIL. I Nathan Frizzle of Knnover, testify and say, that I have been acquainted with Joseph Dyer and his wife, as fieighbors and christians. I was acquainted with Mrs. Dyer from her youth ; and that 1 never knew, or heard, of the least blemish in her character. For several years, I lived a near neighbor to her family in Stewarts- town — was a religious professor with them — saw them baptized August 1809, and in all, never knew or heard 93 ■ of the least complaint on either side, but love and union to God and each other, until June 1811, when the Sha- ker doctrines entered the place : soon after that, Mr. Dyer's family was secluded among the Shakers. Yet I have often since seen Mr. Dy«r, as he was in the coun- try on business ; he always gave a good report of his wife, said "she was a pious faithful woman, and much favored of God." She ever had more candor, than was natural to him ; lack of which 1 think, has caused her great grief, since the difficulty arose between them on the account of the Shakers. 1 have talked with Mr. Dyer about certain accusations in Dyer's Narrative, he gave me to understand that he did not consider either of those persons guilty of a crime, but " Mary had accus- ed the Charch of God, and that must be defended." And I certaiiily know that Mr. Dyer bad, or appeared to have great fellowship with each of those persons, when they left the country at last. And as for Mrs. Dy- er's ever journeying with a minister, or to preach, it is certainly a mistake, unless with her own husband, who used at times to preach, and she did sometimes journey with him to their friends. I am some acquainted with the Shaken, and do believe Mr. Dyer has crossed his own mind, in defending their cause. NATHAN FRIZZLE. Grafton^ ss. Hanover. March 1 8th, 1819. Attested before me, SILAS TEN- NEY, Justice Peace. Mr. Frizzle is now an Elder of the Baptist order in Hanover, N. H. Several gentlemen in the upper towns of Vermont, hearing that I was soon to appear before the General Court, from their charitable hearts, unknown to me, sent the following. Essex, ss. May 8th, 1818. We the undersigned, have for a number of years been well acquainted with Mrs. Mary M. Dyer, wife of Joseph Dyer, and believe her reputation lor truth and veracity is irreproachable, and her character iu every respec^j 94 lair and unspotted. We therefore with pleasure re- commend her to that support, countenance and encour- agement, which a virtuous and unfortunate woman mer- its, from a just, humane and enlightened commDnity. O. Ingham, Chief Judge. M. Rich, side Judge. S. Gates, side Judge. J. Cushman, Judge Prob. Z. Perkins, Jus. Peace. J. Berry, State's Attorney. W.Gates, Clerk C. Court. R. Culler, Justice Peace. S. Cushman, Esq. John Dean, High Sherifl". This may certify, that we the undei^igned are per- sonally acquainted with Mrs. Mary Dyer; she has lived in our family, in Concord, and at Mr. Hazen Kim- ball's, a door neighbor, for a considerable space of time, and we have seen nothing in her deportment, but what is agreeable to a profession of piety. We further state, that we have seen her in the most aggravating afiliction and persecution, all of which she bore with patience and fortitude to our astonishment, which must be by the assistance of grace only. BENJAMIN KIMBALL, ABIGAIL KIMBALL, Sept. 6, 1822. ELIZA R. KIMBALL, MARY B. KIMBALL, CLARISSA KIMBALL. Letler to tht Ministers of the Untied Society* common- ly called Shakers. BY R. 1. CLARK. In January, 1818, I called to see your Society in Canterbury, N. H. and had some conversation with your Elders, upon religious subjects. As thoy then revealed their sentiments and doctrines, I fell m with them. On my return home to Wearc, the place of my residence at that time, 1 conversed with my wife about joining the Shakers. She h^rd some I'ears about moving to your village, because, if reports were true, the time would come, when we should not be- lieve in the Scriptures of truth, but should be induc- ed to believe in your Bible, which you had written among yourselves, and which condemned the scrip- tures as being inferior to your testimony ; and that we should hate each other, and become bitter ene- mies. On seeing some of your Elders, they assur- ed me, that such reports were false, and that such • United Socifty — UnitPd in what? United in a belief, that Jesus is not a sufficient Savior; united in deceiving the world to gain proselytes to the faith in Ann Lee ; united in condemning the true Church of Christ, which Christ had chosen out of the world; and said, that they were no more of the world than he was of the world, and said, that they were tfie Light of the world, as being inferior to themselves — their language is, Stand off. for I am more holy than thou. United in setting husbands and wives against each other, so as to cause them not to love each other, nor provide for each other, neither in sickness nor health. United in going forth in the dance, in direct opposition to the precepts and examples of Jesus Christ, in obedience to the Ministry. United in reproaching all that do leave their Society ; united in saying, that Ann Lee is the Lord our Righteousness, as much as the followers of the Pope of Rome in styling him their Lord Gi d the Pope, whose friars the people were to confess heir sins to. Tnerefore, let the peo- ple behold them as a united company, wVo are without natural affec- tions, and covenant breakers, except of the law revealed through Ann, which is contrary to eyery manifestation of the dealings of God with man ; is calculated to break up families that live in love and peace, and make them bitter enemies. This is done in deception, in a gift from " the lead." 96 fears were entirely groundless. Christ come, said they, not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it ; and that lov€ was the fulfilling of the law. No person could be a true chnstiaa, who was not desirous of perform- ing all his duties to his Creator and his fellow men* We render to all, their dues ; custom to whom cus- tom, fear to whom fear, and honor to whom honor is due; and he that provided not for his own house- hold or family, denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. If we joined their Society, all our civil and religious obligations would be still in force ; and as we had promised in our marriage covenant, to provide for, and take care of each other, until sep- ' arated by death, agreeably to the civil law, we were bound to perform our contract, as much as any du- ty whatever. My wife and myself, confiding in these statements, made up our minds to join your society; upon the express agreement, however, between ourselves, that we were to be as kind and attentive to each other as ■we had ever been. Accordingly, we moved to Lou- don, to a place near your village, and, as we were treated kindly by your society, we afterwards, at our own request, took up our residence in your vil- lage. There were some sentiments in your testimo- ny or bible which appeared to me at that time, to be inconsistent with the scriptures of truth; but the El- ders assured me, that such had btm the opinion of others among them, who were rrozw firm believers ; and that they would soon appear plain and clear to my comprehension. I read the remonstrance of the Society^ addres- sed to tile Legislature and published in 1818, and found you there said, (page 38) " We believe the Holy Scriptures to be a record of divine truth ; we appeal to no other religious creed for the propriety 97 either of our faith or practice. We believe m one true God, who is a spirit, the fountain of all good. "We believe in Jesus Christ, as the only Savior of mankind. We teach no other doctrine than what Jesus Christ and his Apostles taught, nor obey any other than what is comprised in their words — therefore we obey them diat are over us in the Lord ; doing service unto God, and not unto man." On the 84th page, your Deacons say ; "• Wherefore we do not pretend to dissolve or disannul any thing that either the law or gospel requires in this respect, notwithstanding the statement of Mary Dyer and others to the contrary ; but on the other hand, we counsel those that come in amongst us, to fulfil all that the law requires of them ; as well in regard to the marriage con-ract as any thing else." This I expected to fini true, because you had published it as such to the world. It was in July 1 822, that I moved into one of your families, with my wife and children, to live on trial : not binding myself or family, or giving up my prop- erty, only the use of it until I called for it. Soon after this, you published a book, entitled " A sum- mary View of the Millennial Church," wjiich con- tained doctrines very different from those in the above extracts, and the practice of the Society and what we are taught in it, varied materially from what you addressed to the Legislature. In this " Summary View," page 9, concerning the wonderful revelations to Ann Lee, it is stated, they saw at once that the candle oi the Lord was in her hand, and that she was able by the light thereof, to search every heart and try every soul among them. From this time, she was received as the first visible leader of the Church of God upon earth." — This looks more like blasphemy than it does like teach- I 98 ing no other doctrine than that which Christ and the Apostles taught. — Christ said he was the first and the last, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end — leaving no place for Ann to be either ihe Jirst or the last. Your Society sing anthems and hymns, as much in praise of Ann, as the Son of God ! esteeming the Bible and those whom God inspired to write it, infe- rior to the doctrines and children of Ann ! The Elders do not appeal to the Scriptvires for the rule of their faith and practice, so much as they do to the sayings of Ann and her first Elders. In the Scriptures, we have no account of such a March as you have instituted ; when the singers stand in the middle of the room, and the elder broth- er and sister lead the dance followed by the men and women in pairs. In these marches, and in your separate union meetings it was so managed, that I was not permitted to walk or meet with my wife but once for more than a year before 1 left your Society. My wife met in the same room with me in the union meetings, until the Deacon came to me with a gift, and said I had a greater privilege than he had when he sat out; for he had then to walk by faith and not by sight, but now we had the old believers for an example; and in the dajs of Christ's first appearing, the Apostles taught saving, be ye followers of us, as we are followers of Christ. Again, as you have us for an example, and it is the gift in this day of Christ's second appearing, young believers ought to pattern after the old believers, and take them for an example. And he added, when he moved into one of the large fantulies, he did not speak to his wife for two years, nor she to him — to prove his hatred to his wife, and that he had forsaken her. Soon after this, my wife left the 99 union meeting which 1 attended. I asked her to return ; for 1 believed the law was a shadow of good things to come ; and it never ahadowed forth that a man should be more in company with another man's wife than his own. I only asked the same privilege that the Ministers or Elders enjoyed in the society of their spiritual males ; but this was denied me. Mj' wife informed me that she did as she was taught, and must obey her leaders. On consulting your Elders, they said, we do not come together to build yp this relation, but to destroy it. It was merely flesh that induced a man to prefer his wife to any body else ; and this affection must be done away, or we could not be admitted into the kingdom of Heaven. I asked them if the Apostles were minis- ters of satan, and taught this doctrine of the flesh which precluded their followers from entering the kingdom of Heaven. Peter writes to the believers, (Chap. 2. Book 1.) and calls them a chosen genera- tion, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a pjeculiar people. And in the third Chapter, he gives the duty of husbands and wives of this holy people, which, so far from countenancing hatred or neglect between them, urges them to be heirs together of the grac.e of life, that their prayers be not hindered. This does not look like encouraging meetings where the husband and wife must be separated; or your HO- LY MARCH where they are not permitted to travel on together! Again : St. Paul in his 2d chapter to Titus, says, " But speak thou the things that become sound doc- trine, that the aged men be sober, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience ? the aged women likewise that they be in bchavio? as bcconieth holi- ness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things ; that they may teach the 100 young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children ; to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own hmbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Do you teach this sound doctrine ? If you do, I never heard it after I went in amongst you to live. If this be sonpd, yours must be unsound. But to return — In your remonstrance to the Le- gislature, you say that you teach no other ddctrine than what Jesus Christ and the Apostles taught ; and in your " Summary View" published in 1823, page 219, you say, "Hence the image and likeness of the Eternal Mother was formed in her, (Ann Lee) as the first born Daughter, as really as the image and likeness of the Eternal Father was formed in the Lord Jesus, the first born son. Thus was she constituted the second heir in the covenant of prom- ise, and was placed in a correspondent connexion with Jesus Christ, as the second pillar of the Church of God in the new creation !" Is not this leaching another doctrine 7 The doctrine of the Bible is, that it pleased the Father that in his Son all fulness should dwell, and that salvation was complete in him, and in no other, not even in Ann Lee. Your Society are verily guilty of prevarication and falsehood, in telling me you counselled those that come in among you to fulfil the marriage cove- nant as much as any thing else; and after 1 moved into one of your families, to teach another doctrine, and practice upon other principles: and now to re- fuse to pay me any thing for the labor of my wife, to assist in supporting my children whom I could not in conscience leave with you, to be brought up to believe Ann Lee to be the WIFE of the SON OF GOD! and to be taught to hate their father, who has watched over their infantile years, with that sd- 101 licilutle, anxiety and tenderness, which none but a parent can fully comprehend ; and you uiierly re- fuse to give me any obligation for her maintenance, if she should live to be old and infirm. If bhe should ever become like Jonathan Durgin and be unable to labor, you would probably throw her up- on the town, (as you have him) or me, for support. I do not blame my wife for remaining with you. She has become a believer in your doctrines and follows your counsel, but I appeal to you. You say, page 58, " The visible head of the Church of Christ on earth, is vested in a Ministry, consisting of male Xind female, not less than three, and generally four in number, two of each sex !" The first in ihe min- istry stands as leading Elder of the Society. And on the 69th page you say, " as faithful ambassadors of Christ, they are invested with wisdom and autho- rity, by the revelation of God, to guide, leach and direct his Church on earth, in its spiritual, travel, and to CO unsel and advise in other matters of im- portance, whether spiritual or temporal." Now if your Elders possess this power, 1 wish you would counsel, advise and direct my wife, respecting her duty to her children and husband ; to fulfil her mar- riage covenant j and as you have wisdom and au- thority, to carry your advice into effect, and as I have done nothing which can be a cause of divorce according to Christ's Sermon on the Mount, I shall hold you responsible for the course which she may take. My wife believes in your testimony, and will obey the ^ift ; she will therefore, now show to the world by her conduct what she is taught. You say in your last publication, that the believ- ing wife is bound to live with her unbelieving hus- band; to treat him with all christian kindness, and to give him no just cause of offence, Bat your acts 12 102 arc not conformable to your sayings ; you do not practice as you teach. You pretend to no new inven- tions in church government; but your practices, your Marches, are directly opposed to this declara- tion. You profess to believe with the Holy Scrip- tures, that Jesus Christ is the only Savior of man- kind ; yet you place beside him Ann Lee, a woman, to say the least, of doubtful character, as a co-equal and a co-worker with him in the mediatorial office ! Why did you not tell the Legislature this? Why did you say thfit you appealed to no other book than the Bible, for the rule of your faith and prac- tice, when in trwth, you make no more use of it than you think necessary to make people have faith in you ; and to induce your dependants to put their trust in the Elders, and to follow them whithersoev- er they choose to lead. Indeed it is to be regretted that you paid so little regard to truth in the exhibi- tion of your creed to the Legislature. You appear fair to the world ; your conduct in public seems to be correct ; your deportment meek ; your language simple, and apparently sincere. This is your outside appearance; but alas! to my cost, I have found you too much like " whited sepulchres." Had you not practised deception upon me and my wife, we should never have joined your Society. Your Elders condemned a Cochranite of Concord, for walking from your meeting-house to the North- house, before a large number of people, by the side of a young woman. They said, let every man walk with his own wife, and shun the very appearance of evil ; for we have no faith in a man who, u^der any religious pretext whatever, chooses to walk or ride about with another woman in preference to his own wife. Such an inclination arises from the instiga- tion of the devil, and is one of his deepest plots to 103 lead men aslray. Yet, 1 found that you practised the same thing, which you condemned in such point- ed terms, in another. After I moved into one of your large families, you, by degrees endeavoured to prevent tny associating with my wife, meeting with her in the union meetings, or wafeing by her side in the marches you have instituted. Finding you approved in yourselves, what you condemned in others, and that you had given an untrue account of your tenets and practices, I became dissatisfied. Your Elders said I might leave them if I chose, but they guessed I would have a struggle to get my wife. Your words have proved too prophetic ; the strug- gle has indeed commenced, and you alone can tell how long it will continue. Give me my wife, whom you have not the shadow of right to retain, and the struggle will end. You may reply, that you do not detain my wife ; that you use no restraint, or authority in keeping her with you, but that she chooses of herself, to stay. You may make the world believe such a declaration, but you cannot deceive me. You know my wife is a believer in your doctrines, and you know that saying to her, that you shall not counsel her to leave you, operates upon her, the same as a positive command to stay. After this manner you reason ; if indeed reasoning it ought to be called. The command under the law, thou shall observe all my statutes, is no more positive and imperative than the liberty which is granted in the first appearing of Christ, " whosoever will come, may come." Therefore, when liberty is granted to do any thing, evtiry believer must consider it as a positive com- mand to do it. Again : You say, Deity does not re- veal himself to the people generally, but to chosen vessels, or the Elders. So that what the Jeaders 104 counsel ihcir followers lo do, ihey are in duty bound io perform; and what they will not counsel them to do, must not be done. Therefore, when you say to my wife, you do not counsel her to go, you very well know it has the same effect upon her, as a positive command to stay. Such a course you take to de- tain my wife, and yet avoid the penalties of the civil law. An ingenious device to accomplish your un- hallowed purposes. On page 288, of your " Summary View," you say, that " many who profess great union and submission lo the spirit of Christ, and object to a visible LEAD- ER in the Church, they are looking for Christ to reveal himself as an invisible guide and teacher to every individual in a separate capacity, without any dependance on the union of the Body ; and expect to be guided by the invisible spirit of Christ in their own souls, separately and independant of any visi- ble LEADER. (Shakers' Answer.) But this doc- trine is contrary to every manifestation of the deal- ings af God with man, and is calculated to destroy the union and harmony of the Church, by rendering every individual independant of the Body." From the above extract, it is plain that a Society thai be- lieves in such a sentiment, has great strength in this world with few members ; because the obedience of every faithful soul, is to centre to the Ministry and Elders. Here you can prove by your obedient sub- jects, who reject the inward teachings of the Spirit in their own souls, as contrary to every manifesta- tion of the dealings of God with man, what you feel a gift to. And we find that where husbands and wives have lived in love and peace all of their days, till they have set out to live with you, that some have obeyed your pretended Gospel to that degree, as to make void the law ot God through 105 faith, and lo scandalize their bosom companions as much as they can, to prove their hatred to them ; when they have acknowledged that they always hare used each other well in every respect. The public can see whether this Christ is a true Christ era false one, by your works; or whether Pope has made his second appearing. You say that Ann Lee was willing to do any thing for her husbind, that either reason, justice, or humanity required ; and you have said that Ann is a pattern of righteousness lo all women, as much as Jesus Christ was to all men. Is this spirit gone ? or has the stream rose higher than the fountain ? Perhaps you may say that this letter is written to persecute you ; and will say that all manner <>( evil was to be spoken of the lollowers of Christ. But this was to be falsely. Jac&b Osgood says, that he has got the Gospel, and all mankind must come lo his Society and confess their sins, or be dam- ned; and this is the sentiment of the Cochran So- ciety : and for a proof of their statement, they say, that all manner of evil is spoken of them falsely, and that they have been actually to prison, as real- ly as Ann Lee has, for their testimony against sin. An answer to this is required, and I will write to you again if my health is spared. LETTER TO MARY H. CLARK. Canterbury^ August 8, 1824. Dearly beloved and respected companion — As 1 feel an interest in your welfare, both here and hereafter, 1 wish to inform you that I have not forgotten you, althcugh we are separated from each other's company at pres- ent ; but I hope the time will soon arrive when we shall enjoy each other's company, and our little children the care and attention of their mother, who they long to 106 see. I have hired them boarded in Sandwich, at Enoch Hoag's, and give him fifty dollars a year for their board, :md I find their clothes. I have the privilege of see- ing them every week. They often meet me, and ask when you are coming to see them, and say it is a great while since they saw you ; and will often burst into tears, and say they are afraid that they shall never see their mother. These babes are not without natural affections ; they say that the people use them well where they live, and that they do not want to come to the Shakers to live ; but want yon to come where they are and live, i have provided a house for us to live in, and I wish you would consent to believe in the Holy Scriptures, instead of Ann Lee and her elders. I know that you never received this, sentiment of the Shakers frpm the Bible, nor from any 'light of God revealed in youir own conscience to condemn the doctrine of the Bible ; for God is an unchanf, eable Being, and has re- vealed his law in Zion, according to the Apostle's dec- laration, for he says, " God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake to our fathers by the prophets, hath in these LAST days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds ; who being the brightness of his glo- ry and the EXPRESS image of his person,*' &c. it ap- pears plain from the language of the Apostle, that ^nn Lee was not revealed to fill up the image of Deity, by his saying that the Son of God was the express IMAGE of his person ; nor her Elders to send forth the law from Zion in these last days, contrary to what the word of God revealed through the holy Apostles in these last days. If Christ had meant that we were to forsake all, even our lawful duties, to inherit eternal life, he never would have told his followers to have render- ed to all their dues, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor is due. It appe.trs plain from the Shakers' writings, that Ann Lee was a pattern of righteousness to all ^vcreii, as much as Jesas Christ was to all men, and th&uhc caipe to America in 107 1774, with her husband and a number of their follow- ers ; that her husband was a believer in Christ's second appearing ; that soon after he fell away, and wished her to live with him again as she used to live. Her Ministry say, on the 16th page of their Summary View, that Ann said she was willing to do any thing for him, which justice, reason or humanity required. Is this the Increase of Ann's gospel to travel to that? They are not willing to do any thing that justice, reason or humanity requires, and is this the increase of light that they can do so and feel no remorse of conscience ? If in one thing a person can make void the law through faith, they can in another, and feel contented, and by being led by blind guides, will grow darker and darker, so as to call good evil, and evil good — call light dark- ness, and darkness light, &c. If it be a sin for a person to set out with you to that degree as to break the mar- riage covenant, so as you can say the Lord's prayer, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, forgive me this sin if you wish to be forgiven, I could not in conscience leave my children to be brought up to hate me, nor to forsake me io my old age ; nor to be taught to believe it their duty to follow the Elders' counsel in disbelieving the Bible, and to make no more use of it than an old almanack, or a mere history of past events ; and to believe that the Elders were endowed with great- er light than the Apostles were, when filled with the Holy Ghost. If it is right for a man to forsake his wife and chil- dren'^ and to give all his earnings to somebody else, or to spend his time so that his family must suffer for want of his kind attention, saying he is to forsake all for the Gospel, and he shall take no thought for the morrow, fcr whosoever Christ makes free is free indeed, even from all of h's lawful duties ; then it is right for the woman ; yea, even for you. I do act wantonly arraign you at the bar of the public, but j( IS time to speak plainly in this case, ai 1 have suffered much in my mind wheo I look back to 108 «ee when we had each other's company and social affec- tions, and the light of our own conscience was to make each other happy and comfortable in this life, and to be prepared to leave this world for an everlasting eter- nity. We believed in one God, and one Mediator be- tween God and man, the man Christ Jesus. Whilst this was our faith, we lived happy together, and strove to provide for each other ail that laid in our power ; but being led astray by the Shakers to believe in them as the true ministers of Christ, how soon the scene chang- ed ! We were not allowed to let each other know our trials after we went in amongst them to live, and the greatest gift was to set husbands against their wives, and wives against their husbands, and to forsake them, and to be more distant there than any where else. Many have proved this by their works and words, and said that against their companions that was no love or rever- ence in according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. There- fore, I wish you to hand this letter to your ministry, and counsel them in future t© take in none but those that do hate their relations to that degree as to choose a stranger rather than a relation ; as there are many now that have not moved into their Society, that have travel- ed out of natural affections, and have proved their hatred by their works, and are more kind to those that the law or gospel does not require, than they are where it does require it — Such ones could say, Mother's gospel or yoke is eas}-^, and her burden is light. And now, that they will n»t do any thing more for them, so that all mankind shall know that they believe in the Elders and obey them, and loathe their husbands and children, and will not live with them, nor work for them. it is true I am no Shaker, but I do not feel to hate you or to scandalize you in the leds< degree. I have own- ed before those evidences that 1 took to the Shakers^ and you, that we always lived in love and peace togeth- er, and you owned the same, and that 1 always used you well in every respect. I do not expect you will ever contradict this, unless you are taught to by your Elders, who you have agreed to obey. 109 Had I requested 3'ou to come and live with me and Ihc children, and to live under a mistress, I should not have expected you to have come ; but this is not the case : I wish you to come and fulfil your lawful duties, and no longer make void the law through faith in Ann Log. From your loving companion, R. I. CLARK. Mary II. Clark. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Wc the subscribers hereby certify, that Robert I. Clark resided in this town and vicinity, a number of years, and while here, he Avas an industrious, prudent, economical young man, and sustained an irreproachable moral character; and after having entered into the married state, always understood he made ample provision for his family. CHARLES WHITE, Town Clerk, DANIEL HOIT, SAMUEL AMBROSE. Sandwich, May 29, 1824. Strafford, ss. May, 29, 1824. Personally appearing Samuel Ambrose, and made solemn oalh, that the above declaration, by him subscribed, is true. Before me, DANIEL HOIT, Jus. Peace, PAUL WENTWORTH, \ Selectmen of JOHNSON D. QUIMBY, \ Sandwich. B. M. BEAN, Jus. Peace. JACOB MARSTON, Cilizcn of Meredith. ASAHEL ADAMS, NEAL M'GAFFEY, Representatives of Sandwich.^ J^. H. The above named have been personally acquaint- ed with R. I. Clark, from 1812 to this dale, and for about five years lived in. said town. K 110 Meredilh^ June 22, 1824. This may certify, that I lived in the Society of Shakers fifteen or sixteen years, and when I went among them ihcy pretended to believe in the Scrip- tures of truth, and that there was no other name given under heaven nor amongst men whereby wc could be saved, but by the name of Jesus. But in process of time, the Elders said that the Scriptures was not the word of God, but a mere history of past events, and that the word of God was in them, and that a full sanation was not known till Ann Lee revealed it, and obeying the Elders was obeying God or Christ in his Second Appearing ; that the Apostles were not born again, and could not be, un- til the Gospel was f)reached to them through Mother and her Elders in the world of spirits. I have often heard Mary H. Clark, who I believe to be an hon- est woman, say that her husband, R. L Clark, was always very kind to hrr, and always used her well in ever}'^ respect ; and 1 have heard the Elders say, that Robert and Mary were two very honest per- sons, and always understood that they bore this character where they have lived. The Elders, in their union meeting, generally meet together two' men and two womrn, which Avere examples for the family, but they did not feel a gift for the rest of the family to be so free together as they were ! and in the march the Elder Brother walked with his spir- itual Elder Sister, and triught us that we must hate our natural relations, and prove it by our works. I believed them to be a very hidden and deluded people, and left them in May l:»st ; yet I believe there are a number of conscientious people among the Shakers, which live in obedience to what they are taught by the Elders. ANNA RUNDLET. Witness, Jonathan Lapp, Betst Ladd, >^^ 111 Remarks on the Shakers'' principles of virgin purity^ in iheir Summary Viczo^ published ?'n 1 823, pages 274 and 275. Besides the fanaticism,myslicism and blasphemy, in making Ann Lee superior to Jesus Christ, gener- ally through the book, in these pages there are prin- ciples called moral virtues, which sap and destroy the foundation of all social affection and civil government. Wc must absolutely hate all cm* natural relations. Not merely love them less than God, but hate and despise and forsake them as the worst of enemies, to be a Shaker. This must be proved by our works. Men must hate their wives — wives their husbands — parents their children, and children their parents.- This hatred must be mani- fested by all their words, signs, gestures and actions, by which we show our hatred to our worst and bit- terest enemies. Passing over the blasphrm.ous sneer' of the nble in page 275, which reaches to our Sa- viour in the garden and on the cross, who had something to submit at the last hour to his Father ; what civil government on earth can subsist, counte- nancing such principles and works ? Suppose all the Legislators on earth should combine to enact laws, that parents should hate their children and forsake them, and so of the rest of their relations, could their laws be maintained or executed, unless under the dominion of Ann Lee ? What a Millen- ium indeed, if all the kingdoms of the earth should enlist under Ann Lee, and hate every one his father, mother, wife and children ! What a spectacle ! If it shocks us to the very soul, why should a Society be tolerated in the bosom of the best and most cn- Tigllitened civil ^government on the globe — a Society which does, by profession and practice in open day, tear and rend the dearest relations- on earth from V 112 ono another, and teach them to hate each other, and separate and abuse each other, under the idea of worshipping God in Ann Lee and her ministry. Rights of conscience con extend no farther ihan the mere worship of (hat God who formed all the en- dearing ties of nature, and ordained civil govern- ment for the.beiiefil of man. A family was the first society th(»^t*\'cr was formed on earth, and is the origin of all other societies, civil or sacred ; andean it be for the benefit of civil society to indulge a body of people, whose principles and practices tend to subvert and destroy the first principles of all social felicity ? Our legislators have a right, and are bound by their oath and the Constitution, to protect all in the enjoyments of their civil and natural privi- leges ; but they are not bound to allow robbery and deception in regard to the dearest enjoyments of life, though it may come from the authority of Mother Ann. To enlightened minds, all the talk of voluntary action in their dedication, (see pages 54 and 56) amounts to nothing, when it is rerollccted what arts, sophistry and perversion of the Bible is practised to obtain this voluntary consent. We may type and figure the Bible into as many shapes as there are in a Shaker dance, and after all this, we can never have authority to violate our previous obliga- tions to obey the laws of nature, civil scciety, or God. SAMUEL HIDDEN. The Rev. Samuel Hidden is a worthy minister, settled in Tamwortb, N. H. 1j io^^^^^fM^-^ /' i